"The Fates" from The Songs of Béranger 1829

"The Fates" is a wood engraving by French artist Tony Johannot, created in 1829. The work depicts a scene from a book of songs by French poet Pierre-Jean de Béranger. The central oval features the Fates, three women weaving the thread of life. The scene is framed by symbolic images: a soaring eagle, a reclining cherub holding a lyre, and a variety of other objects representing love, war, and the passage of time. The work highlights Johannot's skill in creating detailed, expressive, and visually captivating scenes. It is a fine example of early 19th-century printmaking, with its intricate detail and careful use of light and shade. The work is part of a series of engravings that illustrate Béranger's songs, known as "The Songs of Béranger." The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY, houses this piece.