Muildier before 1650

Editor: This engraving, "Muildier" by Antonio Tempesta, likely made before 1650, portrays a mule in a rather formal stance, set against a somewhat whimsical landscape. There's almost a portrait-like quality to it, a sense of the mule posing. What strikes you about this piece? Curator: Oh, this mule! It reminds me of a Renaissance prince rendered in animal form. Its powerful haunches and the slightly arrogant set of its head—Tempesta clearly wasn't just drawing an animal, he was imbuing it with character. And the landscape, just a wisp of civilization there in the background...do you see how the lines mimic the muscularity of the mule, yet contrast to offer a stage for it? Editor: Yes, now that you point it out, the landscape seems secondary, almost a prop. What about the technique itself? The lines are so precise, so controlled. Curator: Exactly! Baroque art often revels in detail, but here it's tempered by a certain elegance. It's not just showing off skill; Tempesta uses that detail to give the mule weight, presence. One could even wonder, looking at the period, how a ‘beast of burden’ has been chosen to become art! It almost satirises our human pomp, don’t you think? Editor: It does have a somewhat comical element now that you mention it. I initially thought of it as simply a study of an animal. Curator: Ah, but isn't that the joy of art? It starts in one place, and, with a little nudge, it takes you somewhere else entirely. It’s less about what it *is* and more about what it makes *you* feel. Editor: Absolutely, I’ll never look at a mule the same way. Curator: Nor I, and that, my friend, is the best any artwork can do!