The Torment of Tantalus

Tantalus reaches towards fruit and water that withdraw whenever he approaches them. The chapter describes the paradox of abundance made inaccessible: clear water surrounds him, and laden branches hang above, yet neither hunger nor thirst can be relieved.

The commentary compares different ancient versions of both the punishment and the offence, including a feast where a Fury prevents him from eating. The engraving chooses the living landscape, making the distance between hand and fruit, mouth and water, the measure of an endless frustration.

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 56 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 56.

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.

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