Bas-reliëfs van vijf muzen, Apollo die Bacchus instrueert en Bacchus met Ariadne en Silenus before 1873

These are photogravures of bas-reliefs of mythological scenes by Joseph Cundall. The gray tones create an almost sculptural quality, emphasizing the forms and the interplay of light and shadow, which brings to life the neoclassical figures. These reliefs, captured through Cundall’s lens, present a structured narrative. Each panel—from Apollo instructing Bacchus to scenes involving muses and revelry—is meticulously framed. We see clear horizontal compositions that guide the eye across each tableau. The visual structure reinforces the classical themes of order, knowledge, and festive release. Cundall’s choice of photogravure flattens the depth, reducing the complex three-dimensionality of sculpture to a study in tonal values. This allows for a dialogue between surface and depth, representation and reality. The reliefs, stripped of color and reduced to essential forms, prompt us to consider how classical ideals are filtered through the lens of the 19th century, inviting ongoing interpretation.