Plate 8: Ulysses receiving the winds in a leather bag from Aeolus

Art Historical Context

This 1756 etching and engraving captures a pivotal moment from Homer’s Odyssey: Ulysses receiving the winds in a leather bag from Aeolus, the keeper of the winds. The scene illustrates the hero’s brief good fortune as he prepares to sail home to Ithaca, only to face later misfortune when the bag is opened. Created as Plate 8 in a series, the print translates a classical literary episode into a detailed visual narrative for an eighteenth-century audience fascinated by ancient myths. The work reflects the collaborative printmaking practices of the period, with contributions from Giampietro Zanotti, Domenico Maria Fratta, Pellegrino Tibaldi, and Bartolomeo Crivellari. Etching and engraving allowed artists to combine fluid lines with precise shading, producing affordable yet refined images that brought epic stories into private homes and collections. Measuring roughly 16 by 7⅝ inches, the sheet’s vertical format suits the dramatic exchange between the mortal and the divine figure. Acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art through the Rogers Fund in 1962, this print exemplifies how classical themes continued to inspire European artists well into the Enlightenment. It offers viewers today a window into both ancient storytelling and the technical artistry of mid-eighteenth-century printmaking.

About the Artist

Giampietro Zanotti|Domenico Maria Fratta|Pellegrino Tibaldi|Bartolomeo Crivellari (Italian|Italian| ) · 1700 |1701 | –1800 |1782 |

Italian, active 18th century|Italian, Bologna 1701/15–1782 Bologna|