Earth

Boullogne, Louis (the younger), after

Mezzotint on paper of the triumph of Cybele, the Great Mother goddess, engraved and published by Bernard Lens II (1659-1725) in London between 1674 and 1725. It is a copy of a painting by Louis de Boullogne (1654-1733), from a set of four paintings of the Elements: Earth, Water, Fire and Air. The whereabouts of the original paintings are unknown. Cybele sits in a chariot drawn by lions (her companion animal) between Bacchus (god of wine) holding a thyrsus and Ceres (goddess of agriculture) holding her sickle. The atmosphere is festive, populated with dancing satyrs, putti and women with baskets of fruit and flowers, and another playing a tambourine. The week-long Roman Cybelean festival was held every spring with public games and theatrical performances included among the celebrations.