Title Page to Ovid's Metamorphosis, translated by G. Sandy

Art Historical Context

This engraving by Thomas Cecil serves as the title page for an English translation of Ovid’s Metamorphoses by George Sandys (listed here as G. Sandy). Created between 1551 and 1600, the print exemplifies the growing use of engraving to adorn and introduce classical texts during the late Renaissance and early modern period. As a precise and reproducible medium, engraving allowed intricate designs to accompany printed books, helping bring ancient stories of transformation to a wider audience beyond scholars who read Latin. Ovid’s Metamorphoses, with its tales of gods, mortals, and change, held ...