Plate 104: Peleus Embracing Thetis (Peleus Thetide vinculis coarctata potitur), from Ovid's 'Metamorphoses' 1606

Antonio Tempesta created this engraving, "Peleus Embracing Thetis," as part of his illustrations for Ovid's "Metamorphoses." The scene is rendered with a dense network of fine lines, a technique characteristic of engraving, creating stark contrasts between light and shadow that adds dramatic intensity to the scene. The composition is divided, on one side we see a cave with Peleus seizing Thetis, and on the other side, we see figures near the shore. The forceful embrace is countered by Thetis’s restrained form, bound by chains, creating a visual tension that captures the essence of the mythological struggle. Tempesta uses line and form to explore themes of constraint and power, and by extension, questions the possibility of transformation, a central idea within Ovid's stories. Consider how Tempesta manipulates the medium to create a sense of depth and movement, inviting the viewer to consider the layers of meaning embedded in this dynamic mythological narrative.