Androcles and the Lion - from "Androclus: or, the Roman Slave"

 

Francis Barlow

  1626 - 1704 (biography)

1668  

etching 

10 3/16 x 7 1/2" platemark; 9-15/16 x 7-1/4" image size 

unsigned, as usual 

not stated 

etched beneath image, lower right: "An: Sect: 30"; notations in pencil in unidentified hand with title, artist, date, etc. 

British Museum 1977,U.254.1 

antique-white laid with Fleur-de-Lis watermark 

published 

John Ogilby 

24707 

$500.00 

A depiction of the notable fable with roots in ancient Egypt, attributed in this case to the 2nd century book of folktale interpretations, "Attic Nights", by Roman author Aulus Gellius. Known variously as "Androcles" or "Androcleus and the Lion", its depiction of morality parallels Aesop's better-known "The Lion and the Mouse". Roman slave Androcles takes refuge from his master by hiding in a cave, whereupon he meets a lion who suffers from a thorn in his paw. Androcles removes it and the lion is grateful, letting him live. Later, Androcles is found by his master and thrown into a circus arena to be eaten by a starved lion - the very same who Androcles cured. The two embrace and, seeing the display of mercy and love, are then set free.

In the late 17th century the Scottish author, translator, publisher, and Royal cartographer John Ogilby set out to publish a new and more attainable version of Aesop's Fables. Titled "Aesopicks: or, A Second Collection of Fables, Paraphras'd in Verse, Adorn'd with Sculpture, and Illustrated with Annotations", he hired Francis Barlow to illustrate it, claiming that the illustrations ("sculptures") made it "...prevail to make Men lesser Beasts, than all the store of tedious Volumes vext the world before."

The notation in the plate's lower right, "An: Sect: 30" refers to the fable's title (Androcles) and the passage's section number within the story (number XXX of XXXI). This image, titled "SPQR" for Senatus PopulusQue Romanus after the inscription shown in the image (carved into the box seats of the arena), was accompanyid by text on page 255 that read: "The Lion then, on purpose fasting kept, / Forth to his Prey cager with Hunger leapt- / Feast prepar'd, then ready to attack, / His Face beholding, suddenly starts back, / Then he his dearest Friend perusing knew; / When in an humble Posture near he drew, / Kissing his Feet, his Hands, and well-known Face; / When they each other hugg'd in dear Embrace."