The Three Graces

Artist/Culture Jacob Matham Dutch, 1571–1631

Artist Hendrick Goltzius Dutch, 1558–1617

Dateabout 1588

Mediumengraving on thin, textured cream laid paper

Dimensionsimage: 30 × 20.1 cm (11 13/16 × 7 15/16 in.)
sheet: 31.2 × 21.9 cm (12 5/16 × 8 5/8 in.)

ClassificationsPrints

Credit LineEliza S. Paine Fund

Object number1992.18

DescriptionPlate No. 8 from "The Set of Eight Mythological and Allegorical Subjects".Label TextIn Greek mythology, the charites were deities of feminine charm, beauty, and fertility. They represented three ages of womanhood, the youngest was Aglaea, or ‘splendor, her sister Euphrosyne, or ‘mirth,’ and the eldest was Thalia, or ‘good cheer.’ They were believed be the daughters of Zeus and Eurynome, and Homer wrote that they helped make up the retinue of Aphrodite. In Roman mythology the charites were known as gratiae, or ‘Graces.’ Goltzius envisioned them each crowning the other with the laurels of triumph, in an eternal circle.ProvenancePia Gallo, Chicago, IL

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