Anonymous French artist, Fontainebleau School Pan cuts the reed Syrinx was transformed into ca. 1550 drawing Getty Museum, Los Angeles |
Let the cliff clothed in greenery of the Dryads keep silence, and the fountains that fall from the rock, and the confused bleating of the ewes newly lambed; for Pan himself plays on his sweet-toned pipe, running his plain lips over the joined reeds, and around with their fresh feet they have started the dance, the Nymphs, Hydriads, and Hamadryads.
– Epigram from Book 9 of the Greek Anthology, translated by W.R. Paton (1916-18)
Anonymous French artist, Fontainebleau School Procris and Cephalus ca. 1550-1600 drawing Morgan Library, New York |
Antoine-Francois Callet Jupiter and Ceres ca. 1777 drawing Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York |
Giovanni Battista Gaulli Mercury leading Geography before 1709 drawing Blanton Museum of Art, Austin, Texas |
Giovanni Ghisolfi Jupiter enthroned in clouds before 1683 drawing Teylers Museum, Haarlem |
ON THE GRAVE OF ONE SLAIN BY ROBBERS
Zeus, Protector of strangers, let them who slew me meet with the same fate, but may they who laid me in earth live and prosper.
– Epigram from Book 7 of the Greek Anthology, translated by W.R. Paton (1916-18)
Giovanni Ghisolfi Jupiter battling the Giants before 1683 drawing Teylers Museum, Haarlem |
workshop of Giulio Romano Venus, Vulcan and Cupid ca. 1540 drawing for fresco Royal Collection, Windsor |
Max Klinger Apollo and Daphne 1879 etching, aquatint British Museum |
Max Klinger Pyramus and Thisbe 1879 etching, aquatint British Museum |
Lucas van Leyden Pallas Athena ca. 1530 engraving British Museum |
Claude Mellan Statue of Hercules from the Galleria Giustiniana, Rome ca. 1631 engraving British Museum |
ON A STATUE OF HERACLES (CAST DOWN BY THE CHRISTIANS)
I marveled seeing at the cross-roads Jove's brazen son, once constantly invoked, now cast aside, and in wrath I said: "Averter of woes, offspring of three nights, thou, who never didst suffer defeat, art to-day laid low." But at night the god stood by my bed smiling, and said: "Even though I am a god I have learned to serve the times."
– Epigram by Palladas of Alexandria (5th century AD) from Book 9 of the Greek Anthology, translated by W.R. Paton (1916-18)
Marco Marchetti Design for wall decoration with Apollo, Muses, Astronomy, and Arms of the Grand Duke of Tuscany before 1588 drawing Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York |
Giacomo Piccini after Francesco Ruschi Venus and Cupid ca. 1640-70 engraving British Museum |
Jean Audran after Carlo Maratti Galatea and Polyphemus ca. 1700-1729 engraving Teylers Museum, Haarlem |