Frederick Christian Lewis & Raphael (Raffaello Santi)

Which one, Sibyl the Prophetess, or, the Goddess of Poetry? This portrayal depicts a young female figure draped from the waste down while seated on a throne of clouds. She is holding a book, possibly representing the Sibyl line book of prophecies in her right hand and a lyre (Apollo's favorite instrument) in her left. This etching could easily fit the description of the female personification representing Sibyl, the Prophetess, however we should first compare this image to the personification of the Goddess of Poetry, one of Raphael's subordinate Frescos on the Ceiling above the Parnassus painting. Although the Goddess of Poetry is fully dressed, the lower portion of her drapery is very similar to the one depicted in this original etching based upon Raphael’s drawing. In Raphael's Goddess of Poetry and this depiction of Sybil, both women are also holding a book in their right hand and a lyre in their left. They both have their wings spread open and are seated cross-legged on a throne of clouds. The striking resemblance is impossible to ignore. The question here is whether this original etching is based upon Raphael's drawing of a sibyl in the Chigi Chapel, or any of the other sibyls in his painting entitled, “The Sibyls” which depicts four sibyls, Cumaean, Persian, Phygian and Tiburtine receiving instruction from the angels, none of which bear any resemblance to this depiction, or, is this etching actually based upon the personification of the Goddess of Poetry, one of Raphael's subordinate Frescos on the Ceiling above the Parnassus painting which bears many similarities or simply a typo in the index listing for this etching. Whatever the case may be, this original etching is a fine example of the etched art created by Frederick Christian Lewis. It was created in London by F. C. Lewis in 1809. It is the forty third plate, (Pl. XLIII), listed as, "Sybil" in John Chamberlaine's set of original etchings and engravings published under the general title of "Original Designs of the Most Celebrated Masters of the Bolognese, Roman Florentine and Venetian Schools". Bearing the text; "From the Original Drawing by Raphaello di Urbino.", "F. C. Lewis sc.", "In His Majesty's Collection", and the publication line, "Pubd. Feby. 7. 1809 by I. Chamberlaine Scotland Yard."; in the lower margin, and numbered, "Pl. XLIII" in the upper right corner.

Sibyl (Sybil): In classical legend, mythology and religion, a Sibyl is a prophetess, or female seer who acts under the inspiration of a deity. The Sibyl has been portrayed as a temptress, a cunning, deceptive and mystifying woman. According to legend, they were often, but not always depicted as old women and sometimes associated with witches, fortune-tellers or sorceresses and were said to have lived in remote caves or nearby springs. There were sibyls in Greece, Italy, Babylon and Egypt. The most significant was the Sibyl of Cumae (Cumae was a Greek colony located near Naples, Italy). She was first coveted by the Greeks and then embraced as the predominant Sibyl of the Romans. The Cumaean Sibyl has been represented in literature and the arts for over two thousand years. Sibyl was invested with the power of immortality, but having spurned the love of the Greek God, Apollo, he did not give her youth to go with longevity, so she was doomed to live out her long life in the decay of old age. Another noted Sibyl is the Delphic Sibyl. It is said that the Delphic Sibyl was often depicted as the most beautiful, and it is said that the Greek God Apollo, son of Zeus and Leto, would often speak through her. Apollo was the God of music (sometimes depicted with a lyre), poetry and medicine. Known Sibyls also include the Erythrolein Sibyl, the Persian Sibyl, the Samian Sibyl, the Tiburtine Sibyl and others.

The Goddess of Poetry and the Parnassus: According to classical mythology, Mount Parnassus is the dwelling place of Apollo, the Muses and the home of poetry. The Italian Renaissance artist, Raphael (Raffaello Santi) was commissioned by Pope Julius II to decorate the rooms in the Palace of the Vatican that are now known as the Stanze di Raffaello. The main painting is called the Parnassus and the subordinate Frescos on the Ceiling above the Parnassus include the Papal Coat of Arms at the center of the vault enclosed with an octagon. The octagon is surrounded by four round frescos depicting the four personifications, 'Poetry' (which resembles this original etching entitled "Sibyl"), ‘Philosophy’, ‘Theology’ and ‘Justice’. There are four rectangular representations closely related to the four major topics between the roundels. Note: The only female personification on the ceiling that has wings is the Goddess of Poetry.

The Lyre: The musical device the prophetess Sibyl is a holding on her left is called a 'lyre', most often represented as a musical instrument played by the ancient Greeks, and described by many as a small harp. It has two turtle shell or wooden upright arms, almost in the shape of an 'S' which join at the bottom forming a 'U' shaped frame, and a crossbar or yoke near the top with four and sometimes more strings in the center. The lyre is most often played by strumming the strings, unlike the Cretan lyra, another string instrument related to the Byzantine lyra which are played with a bow. The later two are similar to the one in Bernard Picart's original etching entitled, "Amphion Builds the Walls of Thebes by the Music of his Lyre". The lyre hails from the zither instrument family which includes such beautiful chord instruments as the harp, the kantele, the kithara, the chelys, the guitar, the harpsichord, the piano and other similar chording instruments. Other works of art representing the 'lyre' include, "The Lyre by Le Blond & Co., London, and Portion of a Shield in Silver by Vechte, for Hunt and Roskell of London by John Alfred Vinter.

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