Plate 138: Acmon and his Friends Changed into Birds (Comites Diomedis indignatione veneris in aves Diomedeas), from Ovid's 'Metamorphoses' 1606

Antonio Tempesta's "Plate 138: Acmon and His Friends Changed into Birds (Comites Diomedis indignatione veneris in aves Diomedeas), from Ovid's 'Metamorphoses'" (1606), is a dramatic etching that depicts a scene from Ovid's epic poem. The artwork features Acmon, a companion of the Trojan hero Diomedes, transformed into a bird by the goddess Venus. The intricate detail of the etching emphasizes the transformation, with Acmon's companions turning into birds around him. Tempesta's masterful use of line creates a dynamic scene, highlighting the power of the divine in the face of human defiance. This plate, part of a larger series illustrating Ovid's Metamorphoses, is a testament to Tempesta's skill as a draftsman and engraver.