Vertumnus and Pomona - Augustin de Saint-Aubin

A refined Rococo etching by Augustin de Saint-Aubin depicting the mythological encounter between Vertumnus and Pomona.

This fine etching and engraving by Augustin de Saint-Aubin depicts the classical myth of Vertumnus and Pomona, a narrative drawn from Ovid's Metamorphoses. The scene captures the moment Vertumnus, the god of seasons and gardens, disguises himself as an elderly woman to gain access to the garden of Pomona, the wood nymph who tends to her fruit trees with singular devotion. Saint-Aubin renders the interaction with the characteristic lightness and decorative grace of the French Rococo period.

The composition is framed by a delicate, floral border that echoes the garden setting. Pomona stands in a relaxed, classical pose, leaning against a stone plinth, while the disguised Vertumnus sits before her, gesturing in conversation. Above them, putti emerge from clouds, adding a sense of ethereal movement to the scene. The artist employs precise, fine lines to define the textures of the drapery, the stone architecture, and the surrounding foliage. The work reflects the eighteenth-century fascination with classical literature, translated into the refined visual language of the printmaker's craft.

Saint-Aubin was a member of a prominent family of artists and engravers in Paris. His technical skill allowed him to translate the painterly qualities of original designs into the medium of print with great clarity. This particular work demonstrates his ability to balance narrative detail with a balanced, ornamental composition. The print serves as a record of the period's aesthetic preferences, where mythological subjects were frequently adapted for decorative and illustrative purposes. The attention to detail in the botanical elements and the expressive gestures of the figures demonstrate the high level of craftsmanship expected of a master engraver during this era.