Juno summoning sleep to descend upon Jupiter, set within an elaborate frame, from "Loves, Rages and Jealousies of Juno" 1531 - 1590

Editor: So, this is Giulio Bonasone's engraving from around 1531 to 1590, "Juno summoning sleep to descend upon Jupiter." The line work is just incredible. What a tightly packed composition of figures within such an ornamental frame. How would you interpret this piece? Curator: Considering the socio-political context of 16th-century Italy, it's interesting to view this print through the lens of power dynamics. Juno, a powerful goddess, manipulates Sleep, highlighting the negotiation and exertion of authority. The visual drama speaks volumes about how power was perceived and portrayed during this era. The question is, who did the intended audience identify with? Juno, Jupiter or the vulnerable Sleep? Editor: That’s a great point. I was focused on the mythological narrative but hadn't thought about the contemporary audience’s relationship to power. The ornamental frame seems to reinforce Juno’s authority, doesn't it? Curator: Precisely. It visually establishes Juno's elevated status and links her to the opulent tastes of the elite who likely consumed these prints. Consider how such imagery, circulating widely, reinforced societal hierarchies and the unquestioned dominance of certain figures. Were there any patrons you think specifically championed his style? Editor: I'd have to look into that more deeply. Thinking about the Metropolitan Museum possessing this work now, it feels like a reflection of our culture’s fascination with that kind of historical power play too, right? Curator: Absolutely! The museum itself becomes a stage for re-enacting these power dynamics. It’s a continued cycle of assigning cultural and symbolic capital through exhibition. Editor: This engraving feels so much more layered now. Thanks for the new perspective. Curator: My pleasure! Seeing art as a reflection of both its time and our own is key to understanding its enduring power.