Phaeton 1514 - 1536

This engraving by Agostino Veneziano, titled *Phaeton*, depicts the Greek myth of the son of the sun god Helios, who was given permission to drive his father's chariot for a day. Phaeton, however, was unable to control the horses, resulting in a fiery disaster. The image displays Phaeton’s struggle to control the unruly horses, their hooves beating against the clouds. The lower portion of the image illustrates the aftermath, with Phaeton’s lifeless form lying on the river Eridanus, surrounded by grieving nymphs and birds. *Phaeton* was created between 1514 and 1536 and is currently housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.