Clélie and her Companions cross the Tiber.

Jean Massard after Jaques Stella. Cloelia and her Companions. "Clélie et ses Compagnes." .:
'Peint par Stella - dessiné par Odevacre [sic] - Gravé par Massard père', Paris Robillard-Péronville and Laurent c.1803/1809
Black and white copper engraving by Pere Massard after From an original painting in the Musée du Louvre, by Jacques Stella of "Clélie et ses Compagnes."
Part of 'Musée Français, recueil complet des tableaux, statues et bas-reliefs qui composent la collection nationale, avec l'explication des sujets et des discours historiques sur la peinture, la sculpture et la gravure'
The image shows Cloelia attempting to cross the Tiber with other maiden,a young woman riding a horse and helping another woman to get on behind her; other women waiting on the river bank. Etching and engraving
According to Plutarch Cloelia was given hostage to the Etruscan king Porsenna, but freed by him in admiration of her bravery after attempting to escape by swimming across the Tiber.

Jean Baptiste Massard (1740 - 1822)
Engraver, worked much for Greuze. Founder of dynasty

Jacques Stella (1596 - 1657J
Painter and engraver in circle of Poussin; trained in Lyon; in Florence 1616-1621 then in Rome 1621-34; in 1634 returned to Lyon; 1635 to Paris where made painter to the King.

'Musée Français, recueil complet des tableaux, statues et bas-reliefs qui composent la collection nationale, avec l'explication des sujets et des discours historiques sur la peinture, la sculpture et la gravure', was a set reproducing paintings and sculptures from the French collections, and formed by four volumes (published by Robillard-Péronville and Laurent in, respectively, 1803, 1805, 1807, and 1809; accompanied by texts written by Croze-Magnan, then by Eméric-David & Visconti for volumes 3-4).
The series was later re-edited under the title 'Musée Royal, ou Recueil de gravures d'après les plus beaux tableaux, statues et bas-reliefs de la collection royale'
British Museuem no:859,0806.447. 510 by 325mm (20 by 12¾ inches).   ref: 2686  €280