Ixion embracing a cloud, thinking it is Juno, Cupid at the right, set within an elaborate frame, from "Loves, Rages and Jealousies of Juno" 1531 - 1576

Giulio Bonasone created this engraving, “Ixion embracing a cloud, thinking it is Juno”, as part of a series called "Loves, Rages and Jealousies of Juno". Bonasone lived in a time when the printing press was enabling widespread distribution of images, profoundly impacting cultural and intellectual life. In the print, we see Ixion, a figure from Greek mythology, in a compromising embrace with what he believes to be the goddess Juno; of course, it is just a cloud. This work touches upon themes of desire and deception. The Italian inscription beneath the image suggests that Ixion's pursuit of something unattainable leads to a disappointing embrace. One might consider how these themes reflect the social dynamics of the 16th century, particularly regarding courtly love and the often-unattainable ideals of feminine virtue and beauty. Bonasone's work invites us to reflect on the gap between illusion and reality, and the human tendency to be misled by our desires. It serves as a commentary on the perils of misplaced longing.