Loves of the Gods 1515 - 1565

Editor: Here we have "Loves of the Gods" by Giovanni Jacopo Caraglio, dating back to sometime between 1515 and 1565. It’s an engraving, so a print. I'm immediately struck by how classical the figures feel, but also by the unusual composition... It’s almost claustrophobic. What’s your read on this piece? Curator: Claustrophobic, that's interesting... it *is* densely packed, isn't it? The Italian Renaissance was a hothouse of mythological subject matter, of course. Think about the narrative richness—the *storytelling*—embedded here. Look at Mercury on the left – so dashing, stepping into a room where the nymph Glauce is getting her hair done, essentially. You can see some poetry, in Italian, transcribed beneath this rendering. Do you get the sense that Caraglio is perhaps inviting us, too, into a somewhat… scandalous encounter? Editor: Yes, I can see that. A sneaky peek through a doorway. The poem talks about envy... is there a specific myth that this illustrates? Curator: Precisely! It's all about erotic rivalry. Glauce, you see, is beloved by Neptune. But a jealous sorceress named Circe is head-over-heels for Neptune herself, and poisons the poor Glauce. So what do you make of Caraglio’s choice to freeze this moment in time, just before tragedy strikes? Editor: It adds a layer of tension. Like a still from a movie, anticipating something. I wouldn’t have understood the narrative without knowing the mythological backstory! Curator: Exactly! And the poem offers its readers even greater interpretive insight into its allegorical dimensions... We must be thankful to learn alongside others - whether we be an artist, an editor, or indeed, the curious spectator.