The picture represents

Proserpina as Empress

of Hades. After she

was conveyed by

Pluto to his realm and

became his bride, her

mother Ceres impor-

-tuned Jupiter for her

return to earth, and

he was prevailed on to

consent to this, pro-

-vided only she had

not partaken of any

of the fruits of Hades.

It was found however

that she had eaten

one grain of a pome-

-granate, and this

enchained her to her

new empire & destiny.

She is represented in

a gloomy corridor of

her palace, with the

fatal fruit in her hand.

As she passes, a light gleam strikes

on the wall behind her

from some inlet suddenly

opened, admitting for

a moment the light

of the upper world;

and she glances fur-

-tively towards it,

immersed in thought.

The ivy-branch behind in the background,

(a decorative appendage

to the sonnet inscribed

on the label,) may be

taken as a symbol

of clinging memory.