Galatea escaping Polyphemus; he is seated on a rock holding a staff and pipes and looking towards Galatea at right riding a shell pulled by two dolphins, Cupid flying above

Art Historical Context

This engraving captures a dramatic moment from classical mythology, drawn from Ovid’s *Metamorphoses*. The sea nymph Galatea flees on a shell chariot pulled by dolphins, while the cyclops Polyphemus watches from a rocky perch, his staff and pipes at hand. Cupid hovers above, underscoring the theme of unrequited love. The compact composition emphasizes movement and emotion, with the contrast between the graceful marine figures and the solitary, powerful form of Polyphemus. Created in Italy between roughly 1515 and 1600, the print is associated with Marco Dente, an engraver active in the circle of Marcantonio Raimondi. Such engravings played a vital role in the Renaissance by spreading knowledge of ancient stories and antique art to a wider audience. The fine line work and careful modeling of the male nude reflect the period’s renewed interest in classical ideals of anatomy and narrative. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, this small sheet (just over four by six inches) exemplifies how prints made mythological subjects accessible beyond courtly circles, blending literary tradition with the technical precision of the engraver’s art.