MORANGE - ST. AMAND. Olympe abandonnee de son Epoux.
Paris, chez Bonnefoy, 19th century
Engraving of 460x350 mm. Below the image inscriptions with title, signatures and explanatory legend at the bottom. Light dirty signs, fair specimen.
Rare engraving depicting an episode described in Canto X of Ariosto's Orlando Furioso.
Thanks to Orlando's help, the beautiful Olimpia, daughter of the deceased Duke of Holland, has managed to free her beloved Bireno from prison and defeat the evil king Cimosco, who had taken over her territory; now she is returning with her husband by ship to Zealand, taking with her the young daughter of Cimosco that Bireno plans to give in marriage to his younger brother. But during the journey the man falls in love with the girl and, after stopping on a desert island, he leaves again, abandoning poor Olimpia here, who, waking up alone, understands the deception and gives way to desperate tears.