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Lot Essay
The most detailed account of the Ancient Greek myth of Clytie comes from Ovid's Metaporphoses. Clytie, a water nymph, had fallen in love with the sun god Helios, though he was influenced by Aphrodite and in love with the princess Leucothoe. In attempt to win Helios Clytie revealed the relationship to the king, who buried Leucothoe alive. Unfortunately Helios did not fall in love with Clytie, and she was left to stare at him from the ground, eventually turning into a heliotrope, a violet flower believed to turn to follow the sun in the sky. This flower has been changed for a yellow sunflower in modern telling of the myth, though this North American flower wouldn't have been known to the Ancient Greeks.
This present depiction of Clytie is based on a engraving by French artist and illustrator Bernard Picart (1673-1733). Much of Picart's work relates to ancient Greek and Roman myths and stories, including reproductions of seventy antique carved hardstones published in 1724, illustrations for Les Césars de l'empereur Julien in 1728, and The Temple of the Muses in 1733, which included the engraving Clytie Turned into A Sunflower.
This present depiction of Clytie is based on a engraving by French artist and illustrator Bernard Picart (1673-1733). Much of Picart's work relates to ancient Greek and Roman myths and stories, including reproductions of seventy antique carved hardstones published in 1724, illustrations for Les Césars de l'empereur Julien in 1728, and The Temple of the Muses in 1733, which included the engraving Clytie Turned into A Sunflower.