Lorenz Frölich’s etching, “Psyche feeding Cerberus”, 1862

Lorenz Frölich (aka Lorenz Frølich) (1820–1908)

“Psyche feeding Cerberus”, 1862, from the series, “Amor and Psyche”, published by Pierre Jules Hetzel (1814–1886)

Etching in brown ink with light plate tone on wove paper

Size: (sheet) 38.5 x 32.3 cm; (plate) 36.8 x 31 cm; (image borderline) 26.7 x 16.3 cm

Inscribed on plate within the image borderline at lower edge left of centre: “L Frolich / 1862”

Ref: Lotte Thrane 2008, ''Tusmørkemesteren'', Vandkunsten, Copenhagen.

Proof state impression before the addition of inscribed text for publication.

Condition: a crisp and near faultless impression in excellent condition (i.e. there are no tears, holes, folds, stains, foxing or significant signs of use), with small margins and laid upon an archival support sheet.

I am selling this extremely rare proof state (before publication) impression by the famous illustrator of children’s books for AU$210 (currently US$139.21/128.20/GBP107.43 at the time of posting this listing). Postage for this print is extra and will be the actual/true cost.

If you are interested in purchasing this finely executed and elegant etching, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy. 

Looking at this very refined composition with the “right” pictorial components to hook a viewer’s attention and to sustain close examination helps to explain why the name of the artist who executed it, Frölich, became so famous in the 19^th century that a by-word for children’s books was simply: "un froelich" (see http://www.dodedans.com/Efroelich.htm).

For those unfamiliar with the scene portrayed here of Psyche tossing a cake to the mythological three-headed dog, Cerberus, her action was an act of survival rather than a good-natured dog-loving gesture. Essentially, Psyche is pacifying this guardian dog of Hades, so that she may cross the River Styx—shown below the rock ledge that she is navigating her way around—and gain entry into the underworld.

What I like about this composition is that the serpentine rhythm followed by the decorative “S”-shaped stem of the thistle (I hope that I am right about this being a thistle!) helps to connote the theme of katabasis (i.e. descent) underpinning this scene.