Theseus and the Minotaur (Minotaurum Theseus vincit), from The Metamorphoses of Ovid (Metamorphosean Sive Transformationum), plate 74 1606 - 1620

Antonio Tempesta's etching, "Theseus and the Minotaur," depicts the legendary Greek hero Theseus slaying the Minotaur, a creature with the head of a bull and the body of a man. The dynamic composition captures the intensity of the battle, with Theseus, armed with a sword and shield, poised to strike the Minotaur as it charges. The scene is set within a circular arena, echoing the labyrinthine setting of the myth. This work, from the series "The Metamorphoses of Ovid," showcases Tempesta's mastery of etching, a popular technique for reproducing images in the 17th century.