Roof van Ganymedes 1740

This 1740 engraving by Nicolas de Beauvais, a French artist working in the 18th century, depicts the mythological scene of Ganymede's abduction. The image portrays Ganymede, a Trojan prince, being carried away by the eagle of Zeus, the king of the gods, into the heavens. The scene is rendered in a realistic style, with detailed anatomical depiction of the figures and the bird, a stark contrast to the often allegorical and symbolic treatments of the subject. The engraving's focus on classical mythology and realistic detail aligns it with the artistic trends of the Enlightenment period.