Sibylle Cimmérienne 1630 - 1640

"Sibylle Cimmérienne" is an etching by Gilles Rousselet, created between 1630 and 1640. The artwork features a female figure, the Sibyl of Cumae, holding a book and a branch of olive leaves in a landscape setting. Rousselet's etching is a fine example of the style of Baroque engravings, and exemplifies the common depiction of these ancient prophetesses as powerful women. The composition, light, and detail are all typical of engravings from this period. This piece, now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, is a powerful portrayal of one of the most famous oracles of antiquity.