La Chute de Phaëton (The Fall of Phaeton)
Anne-Claude-Philippe de Tubières, comte de Caylus
1736
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Anne-Claude-Philippe de Tubières, comte de Caylus
1736
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
La Chute de Phaëton (The Fall of Phaeton) is a 1736 ink by Anne-Claude-Philippe de Tubières, comte de Caylus, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This image shows a chaotic scene of a falling figure tangled in what looks like a swirling mass of bodies or clouds. The person’s arms are stretched out, one hand reaching upward as if grasping for something. The background is dark with streaks of light, giving a sense of movement and drama. The title at the bottom calls it *The Fall of Phaëton*, a myth about a charioteer who lost control of the sun’s chariot. The mix of black, gray, and light blue tones creates a dramatic, almost stormy mood. Want to know more? Check out the technique: etching.
