Pluto and Proserpina 

This etching, *Pluto and Proserpina*, was created by the renowned Italian artist Giovanni Battista Piranesi (1720-1778). The image depicts the Roman god of the underworld, Pluto, embracing Proserpina, the goddess of spring. The dramatic composition emphasizes the figures' intertwined bodies and their shared gaze, highlighting the mythology of their relationship. The cherubic figures at the base of the image likely symbolize Pluto's realm, hinting at the divine nature of their union. Piranesi is celebrated for his meticulous detail and dramatic composition, exemplified in his numerous etchings of ancient Roman architecture and mythology.