A Chimerical Animal Chasing Other Animals c. 16th century

Editor: This etching is called "A Chimerical Animal Chasing Other Animals," by Antonio Tempesta. The detail is incredible! It looks like a fantastical scene. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Well, consider the context. Tempesta was working in a period of great social upheaval and religious conflict. Prints like this one, circulated widely, often served as allegories. Editor: Allegories for what exactly? Curator: Think about the monstrous creature—a symbol of chaos and fear—driving away the other animals. This could be read as a commentary on the societal anxieties of the time, perhaps the corruption of the Church. What do you think about the phrase at the bottom? Editor: "Where I am, vices are absent?" Is it implying that the monster is a form of punishment, maybe? It feels like there's a dark humor here. Curator: Exactly! It's a powerful statement on the relationship between power, morality, and the public imagination. Editor: I never would have thought to see it that way. Thanks!