Althea

Joseph Anthony Mugnaini

A lithograph done by Joseph Mugnaini in 1953, working with the California Master Printer, lithographer Lynton Kistler. From a series of mythological themes done in editions of 20. This impression is accompanied by an 'authentication' from Kistler and signed by Mugnaini.

Mugnaini began his long-time collaboration with author Ray Bradbury in 1952, during which time he interpreted and illustrated many of Bradbury's books, including "Fahrenheit 451" through the "Martian Chronicles".

This image depicts Althea (Althaea) watching over and feeding a fire consuming a brand. When her son, Meleager, was born the fates told her that he would live as long as the brand on the hearth remained unconsumed. Althea pulled the brand from the fire and hid it until the day she learned that her son had killed her brothers. She retrieved the brand and placed it in the fire killing her son.