Satyr whipping a nymph, who is shown from behind and bound to a tree, a second satyr bearing a club stands in the middle ground
ca. 1590–95
Medium
Engraving
Dimensions
sheet: 5 15/16 x 4 5/16 in. (15.1 x 11 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Phyllis Massar, 2011
Accession Number
2012.136.319
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the late 16th century, Agostino Carracci, a leading engraver and member of the influential Bolognese Carracci family, created *Satyr Whipping a Nymph*, around 1590–95. This intimate engraving, measuring just under 6 by 4½ inches, exemplifies the Carraccis' push toward naturalism and emotional depth, bridging Mannerism and the emerging Baroque style. Printed from a copper plate incised with fine lines, the medium allowed for precise details and tonal contrasts, making it ideal for reproducing complex compositions in affordable multiples for collectors. The scene draws from classical mytholo...
About the Artist
Agostino Carracci · 1557–1602
Agostino left his profession as a tailor to become an artist. His earliest works were engravings, which was an extremely profitable practice and he was famed for having attained new heights of perfection. He was also a skilled painter and collaborated with his famous relations on various commisions. Comment on works: Religious; Portraits.