The painter Zeuxis, preparing to paint a picture for Juno, selects as his model the most beautiful parts of five virgins of Croton. Etching by J. Goupy after F. Solimena.

London : [publisher not identified], [between 1700 and 1799]

1 print : etching ; platemark 36.2 x 42.2 cm

Zeuxis Agragantinis facturus tabulam quam in templo Junoris laciniae publice dicarent inspexit virgines eorum nudas, et quinque elegit ut quod in quâque laudatissimum esset pictura redderet. Plin Hist. lib. 35. Cap 9. Servatur exemplar in aedibus illustrissimi principis Gulielmi ducis Devoniae etc. Solimeni pinxit. Jos. Goupy Londini fecit. There were several successive dukes of Devonshire named William: it is not clear whether the lettering on this print refers to the 2nd Duke (Duke of Devonshire 1707-1729), the 3rd Duke (Duke of Devonshire 1729-1755), or the 4th Duke (Duke of of Devonshire 1755-1764)

Wellcome Collection 33150i

After: a painting on copper in the possession of the Dukes of Devonshire at Chatsworth. Another version was in the possession of Antonio Scarpa (1752-1832), professor of anatomy at Pavia (Sergio Momesso, La collezione di Antonio Scarpa, 1752-1832, 2007, pp. 195-196, no. 76)