The Goatherd Lamon Handing the Infant Daphnis to His Wife Myrtele

Art Historical Context

This delicate drawing by Ambroise Dubois captures a tender moment from classical mythology, as the goatherd Lamon presents the infant Daphnis to his wife Myrtele. Created after 1606, the scene likely draws from ancient pastoral tales, reflecting the Renaissance and early Baroque fascination with stories of humble origins and divine favor. Dubois, a French artist working in this period, uses the composition to emphasize themes of care and destiny within a rustic setting. The work showcases sophisticated draftsmanship through its layered techniques. Dubois combines pen and brown ink with washes, black chalk, and opaque white watercolor on pieced cream laid paper, allowing for rich contrasts of light and shadow that bring depth to the figures. Such mixed-media drawings were often preparatory studies, highlighting an artist’s skill in exploring form and atmosphere before committing to larger paintings or frescoes. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago’s Prints and Drawings department, this piece offers visitors a glimpse into the intimate process behind historical art. Its modest size—27 by 37.8 centimeters—invites close viewing, revealing the careful layering that animates this mythological narrative.