Zephyr and Flora 1670 - 1725

"Zephyr and Flora" is a red chalk drawing by French artist Antoine Coypel, dating from 1670 to 1725. The drawing, housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, depicts the mythological figures Zephyr, the Greek god of the west wind, and Flora, the Roman goddess of flowers. This preparatory sketch for a larger work illustrates Coypel's meticulous process, as evidenced by the gridded paper beneath the drawing that guided his composition. The work showcases the artist's skill in capturing the dynamism of movement and the ethereal qualities of the figures.