Illustrations to the Metamorphoses of Ovid: Jupiter and Io (.1); Jupiter and Io, disguised as a white beifer (.2); Mercury Rescuing Io from Argus (.3) 1664 - 1700

This pen and brown ink drawing by Godfried Maes, one of a series illustrating Ovid’s Metamorphoses, depicts the Roman god Jupiter, disguised as a bird, and his lover Io. Jupiter, disguised as a bird, watches as Io is transformed into a cow by the jealous goddess Juno. The artwork was likely created between 1664 and 1700, as part of a larger project to illustrate Ovid's popular mythological text.