Ganymede Riding a Large Eagle (Zeus)

Giulio Campagnola was an Italian engraver and painter whose rare prints translated the rich Venetian Renaissance style of oil paintings of Giorgione and early Titian into the medium of engraving. He also etched the compositions of Andrea Mantegna; thanks to his works we know paintings that were lost in time.

Today we present an etching presenting the mythological story of the abduction of Ganymede. The extreme youth of the boy depicted by Campagnola, together with his willing participation in his abduction by Jupiter (Zeus) in the guise of an eagle, suggests that a neoplatonic reading of the myth may be intended. It was very popular in the 15th century; beginning with the moralized versions of Ovid's Metamorphoses, this myth was interpreted in the Christianized way as the union of the soul with God.

Thanks to Campagnola's works, the Italian Renaissance could spread through the whole continent and beyond; we can't forget the importance of such masters!

P.S. Jupiter (Zeus) was infamous for his erotic escapades. We have chosen five of the craziest ones!

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