Naked woman (Leda) and swan (Zeus) embrace on a river bank; two figures jump into the water at middle ground; a town and bridge in the background.
Medium
Engraving
Dimensions
Sheet (trimmed to plate): 6 9/16 × 7 13/16 in. (16.7 × 19.9 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Anonymous Gift, 1929
Accession Number
29.44.25
Tags
Art Historical Context
This enchanting early 16th-century engraving the timeless myth of Leda and Zeus the king of the gods disguised as a swan. On a serene riverbank, the nude Leda tenderly embraces the swan amid lush foliage, while two figures playfully leap into the water in the middle ground. In the distance, a quaint town and arched bridge evoke a harmonious Renaissance landscape, blending human intimacy with the natural world. Attributed to Italian masters Agostino Veneziano (ostino dei Musi Domenico Campagnola, and anonymous collaborator, this print exemplifies the virtuosity of 16th-century engraving. Venez...