Phaëton en Apollo 1622 - 1693

Alexandre Bettou created this engraving titled 'Phaëton en Apollo', a dramatic scene brimming with classical symbols. Here we see Phaëton, son of Apollo, who has disastrously commandeered his father's sun chariot. The sun chariot itself is an ancient symbol—a blazing testament to divine power—but here, it becomes an emblem of reckless ambition. The tumbling figures around Phaëton are not mere artistic flourishes; they embody the chaos and terror unleashed when human aspiration overreaches. Consider the classical motif of the 'fall'. From Icarus to the figures in the Last Judgement, it echoes through history, a constant reminder of humanity's precarious balance. The motif of falling, present here, goes beyond a simple narrative illustration. It speaks to our deepest fears of failure and the catastrophic consequences of hubris, an eternal warning reverberating through time. It’s a potent image, tapping into our collective subconscious, reminding us of the tragic consequences of unchecked ambition.