Vignette with a Medal depicting Harpocrate and Lotus Flowers, Volume I, Page 12, from Description des Principales Pierres gravées du Cabinet de S.A.S. Monseigneur le Duc d'Orléans Premier Prince du sang. A Paris chez M. l'abbé de la Chau au Palais-Royal M. l'abbé Le Blond au collége Mazarin Et chez Pissot, libraire, quai des Augustins 1778 - 1780

This etching by French artist Augustin de Saint-Aubin, created between 1778 and 1780, depicts a vignette with a medal featuring Harpocrates, the Egyptian god of silence, surrounded by lotus flowers. The vignette is set against a dramatic background of swirling clouds and radiating light, creating a sense of celestial awe. This artwork serves as a page from a larger publication, "Description des Principales Pierres gravées du Cabinet de S.A.S. Monseigneur le Duc d'Orléans Premier Prince du sang." The intricate details and skillful rendering of light and shadow highlight Saint-Aubin's expertise in the art of etching. The inclusion of the Egyptian god Harpocrates suggests a fascination with ancient cultures and symbolism, which was prevalent during the Enlightenment era.