Juno, Zeus and Aeolus
Medium
Pen and brown ink, on ivory laid paper, laid down on ivory laid paper
Dimensions
29 × 23 cm (11 7/16 × 9 1/16 in.)
Classification
pen and ink drawings
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
3998
Art Historical Context
In the bustling world of 17th-century Roman art, Pietro da Cortona (1596–1669) stands out as a master of the style, blending dramatic movement and theatrical grandeur in his works. This pen and brown ink drawing, *Juno, Zeus, and Aeolus*, captures a scene from classical antiquity: the powerful queen of the gods Juno alongside Zeus, king of Olympus, and Aeolus, ruler of the winds. Likely a preparatory study for a larger painting or fresco, it exemplifies Cortona's skill in evoking divine energy through swirling figures and dynamic poses, hallmarks of the Baroque era's emphasis on emotion and sp...
About the Artist
Pietro da Cortona · 1596–1669
Son of Giovanni Berretoni, decorative carver. Born 1 November 1596, died 16 May 1669.