Book 1, Fable 13: the lottery of Jupiter (La lotterie de Jupiter) 1719

Nicolas Henry Tardieu made this engraving, Book 1, Fable 13: the lottery of Jupiter, sometime in the early 18th century. In it, we see classical gods and goddesses floating on clouds, gathered for Jupiter’s lottery. But this isn’t just a scene from mythology; it’s also a commentary on French society under Louis XIV. This was a time when the aristocracy was obsessed with games of chance and the lavish display of wealth. The engraving satirizes the perceived arbitrariness of social status and power, suggesting that success is as random as a lottery. The image draws on well-established visual codes: Jupiter, king of the gods, sits enthroned, while figures like Minerva and Mercury are recognizable by their attributes. The setting in the clouds gives the scene a dreamlike, unreal quality, typical of the Rococo style. This print was made during a time of increasing social inequality and, though seemingly innocuous, this artwork would have challenged the social norms of the day. Historical context is key to understanding this print. To learn more, we might consult books on the social history of 18th-century France, studies of the Rococo style, and, of course, the prints themselves, held in public collections.