Leda and the Swan set in a landscape 1500 - 1510

This drawing by Giovanni Battista Palumba, created between 1500 and 1510, depicts the Greek myth of Leda and the Swan. Leda, a Spartan queen, is shown embracing the swan, which is actually the god Zeus in disguise. The artist rendered this scene with delicate lines, emphasizing the figures' anatomy and the natural world surrounding them, including a lush landscape with a distant city. The drawing showcases Palumba's skill in capturing both the sensuality and the mythological significance of this famous story. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York houses this drawing, which measures 5 5/8 × 3 7/8 inches.