Man with Crayfish and Urn of Water, from "Ex Antiquis Cameorum et Gemmae Delineata/ Liber Secundus/et ab Enea Vico Parmen Incis" 1599 - 1622

This anonymous engraving from a 17th-century Italian publication, "Ex Antiquis Cameorum et Gemmae Delineata/ Liber Secundus/et ab Enea Vico Parmen Incis", depicts a nude male figure holding a crayfish and an urn pouring out water. This is a depiction of the classical god, Aquarius, a water-bearer constellation in the zodiac, representing the month of January, signifying the end of the rainy season. The image is a prime example of the Renaissance interest in classical mythology and its use in artistic expressions. The detailed and elegant etching style was popular in the period, as it offered a fine degree of precision and allowed for intricate details in the figure's anatomy and the flowing water. The work can be viewed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.