Procession of satyrs and draped figures leading two goats and cow to sacrifice, at right the figure of Pan stands on a rocky pedestal, from a series of twelve frieze-like designs showing bacchanals, sacrifices, and dances

Art Historical Context

This etching by Pierre Breb, published by François Langlois around 1617–25, captures a lively procession of satyrs and draped figures guiding two goats and a cow toward sacrifice. At the right, the god Pan stands proudly on a rocky pedestal, overseeing the scene. Part of a series of twelve frieze-like designs depicting bacchanals, sacrifices and dances, the work draws directly from classical mythology, evoking the joyful yet ritualistic world of ancient Roman and Greek traditions. Created in the early seventeenth century, the print reflects the period’s renewed fascination with antiquity during the Baroque era. Etchings like this one allowed artists to reproduce intricate, elongated compositions reminiscent of ancient friezes, making classical themes accessible to collectors and scholars. The small scale—roughly three by ten inches—suggests it was intended for intimate viewing, perhaps in albums or private cabinets. Brebiette’s delicate line work brings movement and texture to the animals and figures, highlighting the medium’s ability to convey both narrative detail and decorative elegance. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Department of Drawings and Prints, this work offers a charming glimpse into how seventeenth-century artists reimagined ancient rituals for a new audience.

About the Artist

Pierre Brebiette|François Langlois · 1598–1642

Pierre Brébiette (c. 1598–c. 1642) was a French painter and etcher whose elegant, sensuous treatment of classical mythology and allegory earned him a significant reputation in early seventeenth-century Paris. Born in Mantes-sur-Seine, Brébiette traveled to Italy as a young man and lived and worked in Rome from around 1617 to approximately 1625, absorbing the influences of ancient sculpture, Renais...