Thalia c. 1540 - 1555

"Thalia", a c. 1540-1555 engraving by Cornelis Bos, depicts the Greek Muse of Comedy, Thalia. The artwork, housed in the Rijksmuseum, shows Thalia seated in a relaxed pose, her right hand resting on her knee and her left outstretched holding a scroll, a symbol of her role as a muse inspiring art and creativity. Bos’s detailed rendering of Thalia’s drapery and the surrounding architectural elements is characteristic of the Mannerist style prevalent in the 16th century, and the composition of this small-scale print creates a sense of dynamism.