Plaque with Selene and Endymion in Shadow Box Late 18th/19th century

This plaque, made by Wedgwood, presents the myth of Selene and Endymion against a serene blue background. Note the figure of Selene, the moon goddess, with her billowing veil and gentle gaze upon the sleeping Endymion. This scene is not merely a classical tale of divine love; it is steeped in symbolism, echoing the cyclical nature of the moon itself. The motif of the sleeping figure, reminiscent of ancient funerary art, recurs throughout history. Consider how it appears in Renaissance paintings, symbolizing not death but a state of suspended animation or spiritual reverie. The ever-watchful Selene is an archetypal image of the night, a profound symbol of dreams, subconscious desires, and the eternal feminine. As viewers, we are drawn into this tableau, where the boundary between the mortal and divine blurs, evoking a powerful sense of timelessness. The myth resurfaces, reshaped, bearing witness to our enduring fascination with love and the cosmos.