'Marthe et Marguerite'

Photograph of a work by Ary Scheffer, the prime version of which was created around 1830. Inspired by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's (1749-1832) Faust, the image depicts a scene from the play's first part. In it, Marguerite (or Gretchen), with whom Faust has fallen in love, can be seen standing facing her neighbour, Marthe. Marte sits in an armchair and pulls a string of pearls out from a jewellery box held in her lap, while gazing intensely towards Marguerite. Mephistopheles and Faust, are hiding behind the room's door on the left.

Scheffer (and his studio) continued throughout his life to produce new works of old compositions on demand. His paintings were also widely reproduced as etchings.