Seated Pan holding a pipe in his left hand

Art Historical Context

This etching, titled *Seated Pan Holding a Pipe in His Left Hand*, presents the Greek god of the wild in a moment of quiet repose. Created between 1600 and 1630, the print (roughly the size of a postcard) captures Pan seated with his panpipes, a symbol of pastoral music and untamed nature. The work is attributed to Odoardo Fialetti, possibly drawing from designs associated with the earlier Venetian master Giovanni Antonio da Pordenone, blending late Renaissance draftsmanship with early Baroque sensibilities. Etching allowed artists of this period to achieve fine, expressive lines that translated fluidly from drawing to print. As an accessible medium, it helped spread images of classical mythology beyond elite collections, making gods and heroes part of everyday visual culture. The trimmed sheet, now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Department of Drawings and Prints, bears witness to centuries of appreciation for these intimate, portable works of art. Acquired through the bequest of Phyllis Massar in 2011, the print invites viewers to consider how Renaissance and Baroque artists reimagined ancient myths for new audiences. Its modest scale and precise technique highlight the enduring appeal of mythological subjects rendered with both delicacy and vitality.

About the Artist

Odoardo Fialetti|Giovanni Antonio da Pordenone (Giovanni Antonio de Sacchis) · 1573–1638

Comment on works: Painter; Etcher