Niobe Adored on the Altar 1656

Editor: So, this print is “Niobe Adored on the Altar” by Giovanni Battista Galestruzzi, a 17th-century Italian artist. I’m struck by the chaos of the scene. There's so much anguish and motion! What do you notice first when you look at it? Curator: That's a great observation. I’m drawn to the figures crowding the altar, but it’s the almost frantic energy of their gestures that really grabs me. Makes you wonder what catastrophe they're trying to avert, doesn't it? Editor: Definitely, it's like a plea frozen in time. The composition feels so theatrical, almost baroque. Curator: Indeed! With the dramatic lighting and the figures’ expressive poses, it’s a real spectacle. It makes you wonder about the original painting this print was based on. This piece gives me the feels! I’ve always loved stories about folks going up against the divine. Editor: It’s interesting to see how printmaking could capture so much raw emotion even back then. Thanks for sharing that!