Vertumnus and Pomona 1528

Francesco Melzi, a student of Leonardo da Vinci, painted ‘Vertumnus and Pomona’. Here, Melzi illustrates a tale from Ovid’s Metamorphoses during a time when mythological themes were used to reflect Renaissance ideals of beauty and morality. Pomona, a Roman goddess of orchards, is depicted as an ideal of feminine beauty. Vertumnus, another god, disguises himself as an old woman to persuade Pomona to marry him. The painting plays with themes of seduction and transformation, reflecting the era's complex views on gender roles and desire. While the male gaze is evident in the depiction of the seminude Pomona, the agency of Vertumnus is more subtle. Melzi uses the setting, abundant with ripened fruit, to evoke a sense of longing and fulfillment, inviting viewers to contemplate the emotional and personal dimensions of transformation and persuasion. The painting reflects how Renaissance artists used classical stories to explore the nuances of human experience.