Bernard Picart, Cornelis Bloemaert, and others

Ixion’s Wheel

1731, published 1733

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Ixion’s Wheel

1731, published 1733

Physical Qualities Etching and engraving, Sheet: 456 x 284 mm. (17 15/16 x 11 3/16 in.) Plate: 355 x 258 mm. (14 x 10 3/16 in.) Image: 350 x 249 mm. (13 3/4 x 9 13/16 in.)

Portfolio/Series From the book "Tafereel, Of Beschryving van den prachtigen Tempel der Zang-Godinnen," (Amsterdam: Chatelain, 1733) by Antoine La Barre de Beaumarchais (d. 1757)

Credit Line Garrett Collection

Object Number 1946.112.13035

This work shows how the gods punished two kings for their evil deeds by condemning them to eternal suffering in the underworld. The deceptive Sisyphus was forced to push a boulder up a mountain, but each time he reached the top, the boulder would roll back down to the bottom, and he would have to start all over again. Ixion, who murdered his father-in-law, was tied to a wheel that never stopped spinning.

BMA, Jacobs Wing rotation, August 15, 2007- January 29, 2008

Signed: 1

Inscribed: Recto: in plate, lower left: "B. Picart direxit"; in plate, lower center: "IXION ATTACHÉ DANS LES ENFERS À UNE ROUE QUI TOURNE SANS CESSE, / Ixion's wheel. / Ixion der Helle an ein rath fest gemacht, welches ohne auff hören umbdrehet / Ixion in de Helle aan een radt gehegt,'t welke onophoudentlyk omdraayt."; in plate, at bottom left: "B. Picart del. 1731."; at bottom right of sheet, in graphite: "60"