Apollon et Marsyas c. 17th century

This etching by Stefano della Bella depicts the Greek myth of Apollo and Marsyas. Marsyas, a satyr, challenged Apollo to a musical contest. Apollo, the god of music, won and punished Marsyas by flaying him alive. The image depicts the moment after Apollo's victory, with Marsyas bound to a tree, defeated and humiliated, while Apollo stands triumphantly above him. This small but powerful print illustrates the enduring power of classical mythology in Renaissance art, and demonstrates della Bella’s skill as a draftsman.