Ram before 1650

Curator: Welcome. Here at the Rijksmuseum we have "Ram", an engraving by Antonio Tempesta, created sometime before 1650. Editor: A surprisingly serene ram! I find its gaze incredibly placid given the intensity of its horns. The artist manages to make it almost pensive. Curator: Indeed, there’s a tension between its muscular representation and what appears to be an almost contemplative stance. The lines themselves, the hatch marks, are meticulously arranged to emphasize its three-dimensionality. Look closely at how Tempesta uses varied line weight to suggest shadow and form, giving depth to the ram's fleece and musculature. Editor: The ram, of course, is loaded with symbolism—strength, virility, leadership, but also sacrifice and Aries. Given its placement in what appears to be a pastoral landscape, might we read this as a commentary on man's dominion over nature, a popular trope during this era? Curator: Precisely. Furthermore, consider the composition itself. The Ram occupies nearly the entire picture plane, thus implying, within this deliberate artistic constraint, an intent for the animal’s form to function as both subject and signifier within an encompassing ecosystem. The engraving medium facilitates fine detail. The artist uses that ability to highlight differences in texture across the Ram, as well as distinctions among natural forms such as mountains in the background. Editor: I notice that below the image there appears to be the label "L. Ibex Siluester Sardus – I. Flirco Siluestro," revealing potential early attempts at species classification. Perhaps more important, this attention to naturalistic rendering indicates how this depiction of an animal participates within a culture of early modern scientific documentation and emerging ecological thinking. Curator: A brilliant observation! This engraving speaks volumes through its stark contrasts and meticulous lines, revealing a confluence of artistic skill, symbolic weight, and nascent scientific observation. Editor: Indeed. An animal study that continues to stimulate the eye and mind.