Litigium removed from the body of Chaos while his mother is thrown into the air, set within a frame, from "Loves, Rages and Jealousies of Juno"

Art Historical Context

In the dynamic engraving *Litigium Removed from the Body of Chaos His Mother Is Thrown into the Air*, Giulio Bonasone captures a whirlwind of mythological turmoil from his series *Loves, Rages, and Jealousies of Juno* (ca. 1531–76). This 16th Italian artist, renowned for his intricate reproductive prints inspired by masters like Raphael and Michelangelo, depicts an explosive scene of cosmic strife. Litigium—personifying discord or litigation—emerges violently from Chaos, as his mother is hurled skyward, framed within an ornate architectural border that evokes Renaissance emblem books. Such allegorical narratives drew from classical sources like Ovid, blending Juno's jealous passions with personified vices to explore human emotions. Bonasone's Mannerist style shines in the print's compact 5 5/16 x 3 15/16-inch sheet, where swirling nude figures—male and female—convey motion and tension through fluid lines and deep contrasts typical of engraving. This intaglio technique, incising designs into copper plates for detailed, durable impressions, made complex myths accessible to collectors beyond Italy. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Elisha Whittelsey Collection, it reflects the era's fascination with antiquity, nudes, and moral allegory, inviting viewers to ponder chaos and conflict amid divine drama.

About the Artist

Giulio Bonasone · 1500–1600

Comment on works: History; Mythology