Ceres Changing the Mocking Boy into a Lizard n.d.

This drawing of ‘Ceres Changing the Mocking Boy into a Lizard’ was made with pen and brown ink, and brown wash. It illustrates a story from Ovid’s *Metamorphoses*, in which Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture, transforms a boy into a lizard as punishment for mocking her thirst. During the Renaissance and Baroque eras, mythological subjects like this one were often used to convey moral lessons. In this case, the image warns against disrespecting the gods and emphasizes the importance of hospitality. Drawings like this one were a common way for artists to explore and develop their ideas, and for patrons to collect and study art. Prints and drawings also served as an important means of transmitting artistic ideas and styles across Europe. Studying the provenance of this drawing, its ownership history, might reveal more about its purpose and audience. Understanding the social and cultural context of mythological images like this one helps us appreciate their complex meanings and functions.