Pan and Syrinx

Syrinx, an Arcadian nymph devoted to Diana, flees Pan until the river Ladon blocks her escape. She appeals to the water nymphs and is transformed into reeds; Pan's reaching arms close upon those reeds instead of her. Wind passing through them produces a lamenting sound, inspiring the pipes that bear her name.

The chapter extends beyond this episode into Pan's symbolism. It records a period interpretation of his mixed human and animal form as an image of the whole universe: heaven above, the vegetated earth below, and horns associated with the moon. The engraving's reeds, river and woodland thus belong to both a story of escape and a broader vision of nature.

Historical context is adapted from the accompanying commentary by Antoine de La Barre de Beaumarchais. Its interpretations reflect the period in which the book was published.

This edition follows plate 11 in Le Temple des Muses. The complete historical page and its explanatory text remain available in the source record. Source attribution: Bernard Picart and other engravers, Le Temple des Muses (1749 edition). Museum date: 1749 (publication). Source medium: Engraving, inner pictorial scene. Source portfolio: Le Temple des Muses, plate 11.

The inner illustration has been straightened and extracted from its surrounding engraved frame, caption and paper. The comparison shows that extracted engraving beside Surrealium's contemporary colour interpretation.

Surrealium's contemporary AI-assisted colour interpretation takes this print as its starting point. The colours are interpretive choices made for this edition.

Compare the museum original with the Surrealium edition, then order the finished work as a fine-art print or canvas. No subscription is required to purchase. Customisation is available to active Fable subscribers.