Narcissus

Stefano della Bella

1620 - 1664

ets

Rijksmuseum

A young man kneels by a body of water, reaching towards the surface, while a dog sits nearby. Trees and foliage surround the scene. Narcissus is here part of the so-called mythology game. It consisted of 52 playing cards, each marked with a heart, diamond, club, or spade. The pack was developed in 1644 for the then six-year-old Louis XIV. He had become King of France the previous year and Cardinal Mazarin intended them for the education and amusement of the young sovereign. This game was the first in a series of four: the other three treated Geography, Famous Queens, and French Kings.