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Image

Raffaello Morghen, engraver

A Dance to the Music of Time, ca. 1787

Description

Maker

  • Raffaello Morghen, 1761-1833, Italian, engraver
  • Stefano Tofanelli, 1752-1812, Italian, associated artist/maker
  • After Nicolas Poussin, 1594-1665, French, designer

Title

A Dance to the Music of Time

Year

ca. 1787

Medium

Engraving on paper

Materials/Techniques

Materials

  • engraving

Supports

  • Medium weight cream laid paper

Dimensions

53.3 x 62.2 cm (21 x 24 1/2 inches) (plate)

Type

  • Works on Paper,
  • Prints

Credit

Gift of Alice G. Taft, Marianna F. Taft, Hope Smith and Brockholst M. Smith

Object Number

45.113.138

About

This print presents an allegory of the passage of time and the fleeting nature of human existence. Four figures—perhaps the four seasons or the four conditions of human life (wealth, poverty, pleasure, and toil)—dance in a circle to a lyre played by Time, seated in the lower right. The putti blowing bubbles and playing with an hourglass emphasize the vanity and ephemerality of life. In the heavens, the sun god Apollo holds the zodiac, advancing in his chariot, followed by the Hours.

This print is based on a painting made by Nicolas Poussin around 1635. Inspired by ancient art, Poussin’s design appealed to the popularity of Neoclassical imagery in the late 1700s. Published in Rome but dedicated to the duke of Florence, Morghen’s engraving showcases his command of the medium, and his ability to combine excellent draftsmanship with rich modulations of tone.

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Use

The images on this website can enable discovery and collaboration and support new scholarship, and we encourage their use. This object is in the public domain (CC0 1.0). This object is A Dance to the Music of Time with the accession number of 45.113.138. To request high-resolution files or new photography, please send an email to imagerequest@risd.edu and include your name and the object's accession number.

Feedback

We view our online collection as a living documents, and our records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you have additional information or have spotted an error, please send feedback to curatorial@risd.edu.

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