Book 1, Fable 11: Bags of destinies (Les sacs des destinées) 1719

Nicolas Henry Tardieu created this engraving, "Bags of destinies", sometime before his death in 1749. This piece reflects the 17th-18th century European fascination with classical mythology and moral allegories. In the print, Jupiter, king of the gods, sits enthroned on clouds with his eagle, overseeing a mortal man surrounded by bags. The bags, presumably containing human destinies, suggest the capriciousness of fate and divine control over human lives. Think about this image in the context of the Enlightenment, where ideas about individual agency began to challenge traditional religious beliefs. Tardieu invites us to consider the tensions between free will and predetermination, a debate which still resonates today. Consider how the artist uses the visual language of classical art to convey these complex ideas. The idealized forms and dramatic composition create a sense of timelessness, yet the themes explored here are deeply rooted in the social and intellectual currents of Tardieu’s time. The engraving serves as a reminder of how artists engage with philosophical questions and explore the human condition.