Plate 32: Thisbe Killing Herself (Thisbe Pyrami exemplum aemulata pectus sibi trasuerberat), from Ovid's 'Metamorphoses' 1606

This etching by Antonio Tempesta from 1606 depicts a scene from Ovid’s Metamorphoses, in which Thisbe finds her lover Pyramus dead. Thisbe, distraught by her lover’s death, stabs herself with a sword. Tempesta uses strong lines to create a dynamic scene and the use of shading and cross-hatching create a sense of depth and realism. This work, like many of Tempesta’s others, draws heavily on classical literature for its subject matter. The engraving exemplifies Tempesta’s signature style, known for its intricate detail and dramatic use of light and shadow.