Plate 11: Apollo riding his chariot in a niche, facing right, from "Mythological Gods and Goddesses"

Art Historical Context

Behold Plate 11 from the enchanting series *Mythological Gods Goddesses* (1526), an exquisite engraving by Giovanni Jacopo Caraglio designs by the Mannerist master Rosso Fiorentino. Measuring just 8 5/16 × 4 5/16 inches, this intimate print captures Apollo, the radiant god of music, poetry, and the sun, boldly riding his chariot within a classical niche. Facing right, the muscular male nude exudes dynamic grace, his form elongated and elegantly twisted in true Mannerist style—hallmarks of Rosso's innovative departure from High Renaissance harmony. Engraving, a meticulous intaglio technique where Caraglio incised fine lines into a copper plate for inked impressions, allowed these mythological visions to reach wide audiences across Europe. This collaboration bridged painting and printmaking, democratizing Rosso's sophisticated imagery during the early 16th century, when classical antiquity inspired Renaissance artists amid Italy's cultural renaissance. Part of a celebrated series evoking ancient gods, this work highlights Apollo's eternal symbolism of light and arts, blending pagan mythology with humanist ideals. Housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, it invites visitors to marvel at how such tiny sheets fueled the era's artistic fervor.

About the Artist

Giovanni Jacopo Caraglio|Rosso Fiorentino · 1500–1565

Italian, Parma or Verona ca. 1500/1505–1565 Krakow (?)