Zephyr and Iris 1556 - 1629

Antonio Aliense rendered "Zephyr and Iris" in ink on paper, sometime in the late 16th or early 17th century, a period marked by the flourishing of Mannerism. As the Renaissance waned, artists grappled with expressing human form and emotion through the lens of classical mythology. This drawing offers us insight into how artists envisioned mythological figures during a time of immense cultural and intellectual transition. Zephyr, the west wind, and Iris, the goddess of the rainbow, are presented not merely as figures of lore, but as embodiments of natural forces imbued with divine grace. Consider the emotional weight carried by these figures, and reflect on the stories we tell ourselves through art, using classical narratives to understand our place in the world. "Zephyr and Iris" challenges us to find new ways of seeing and feeling.