Jupiter, seated above two eagles and embracing Cupid, a round composition from a series of mythological scenes after Polidoro da Caravaggio

Art Historical Context

In this captivating engraving from around 1590, Cherubino Alberti masterfully reproduces a mythological scene originally designed by Polidoro da Carav, a prominent Mannerist artist influenced by Raphael. Titled *Jupiter, Seated Two Eagles and Embracingid*, the circular composition—known as a tondo—icts the king of the gods enthroned atop his sacred eagles, tenderly holding the winged god of love. This intimate portrayal blends divine authority with paternal affection, drawing from classical Roman mythology where Jupiter symbolizes power and eagles represent his dominion over the skies. Alberti, a skilled Italian engraver of the late Renaissance, created this as part of a series of mythological scenes, showcasing the era's fascination with antiquity. Polidoro's original designs, often used in architectural decorations, were widely disseminated through prints like this 7 3/4 x 5 7/8-inch sheet, making high art accessible to collectors and scholars. Engraving's precise lines allowed Alberti to capture the elegant, elongated figures and dynamic poses typical of Mannerism, a style bridging Renaissance harmony and Baroque drama. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department through the Bequest of Phyllis Massar in 2011, this work highlights the reproductive print's role in preserving and popularizing Renaissance imagery across Europe. Visitors will appreciate its technical finesse and timeless evocation of godly love.

About the Artist

Cherubino Alberti (Zaccaria Mattia)|Polidoro da Caravaggio · 1553–1615

Cherubino Alberti (1553–1615), also known by his birth name Zaccaria Mattia, was an Italian engraver and painter active in Rome during the late Renaissance and early Baroque periods. Born in Borgo San Sepolcro in Tuscany, he came from an artistically inclined family and received training that equipped him for work in both painting and the reproductive graphic arts. It was as a printmaker, however,...