Neptune and Melanthe, from "The Loves of the Gods" (Amorosi diletti degli dei) 1531 - 1576

Giulio Bonasone created this engraving, Neptune and Melanthe, as part of "The Loves of the Gods." The artwork is dominated by a sinuous composition, featuring stark contrasts between light and shadow created through fine, dense lines. Melanthe stands centrally, her figure a study in classical contrapposto, a sculptural balance achieved in the figure. She is draped with a serpentine creature, its form echoing the curves of her body, while a cherubic figure and a fantastical sea creature complete the scene. Bonasone’s technique employs hatching and cross-hatching to define form and texture. The strategic use of line directs the viewer's eye, constructing a narrative within the visual space. The linear precision, while depicting a mythological scene, engages with the broader Renaissance interest in form and anatomical accuracy. Here, the viewer is invited to consider how Bonasone uses the visual language of his time to convey layers of meaning within this seemingly simple composition.