Plate 136: Circe Changing Picus into a Bird (Circes concubitum detestatur Picus), from Ovid's 'Metamorphoses'

Art Historical Context

Behold Plate 136 from Antonio Tempesta's masterful series of etchings illustrating Ovid's *Metamorph*, published in 1606. This intimate 4 x 4 9/16-inch print captures the dramatic moment when the enchantress Circe, enraged by Picus's rejection, transforms him into a birdlikely a woodpecker in Ovid's tale—amidst a whirlwind of mythological fury. Surrounding the scene are vivid depictions of birds and boars, evoking the wild, transformative magic of classical antiquity. Tempesta, a prolific Italian Baroque artist (1555–1630) renowned for his dynamic animal renderings and over 1,500 prints, drew from the Renaissance revival of ancient texts to bring Ovid's epic poems to life for a wide audience. As an etching, this work showcases Tempesta's virtuoso technique: fine, expressive lines etched into copper plates create intricate textures, from Circe's flowing robes to the feathers of fleeing birds. Prints like this were revolutionary, making high art affordable and portable during the early 17th century, when Baroque drama emphasized movement and emotion. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Elisha Whittelsey Collection, it exemplifies how Tempesta bridged painting and printmaking, immortalizing myths that inspired generations of artists from Rubens to modern illustrators. *(198 words)*

About the Artist

Antonio Tempesta · 1555–1630

Antonio Tempesta (1555–1630), known as 'Il Tempestino,' was a Florentine painter and printmaker whose extraordinary output of approximately 1,700 etchings made him one of the most influential printmakers of the early Baroque period. Born in Florence and trained under Santi di Tito and the Flemish master Joannes Stradanus, he enrolled in the Accademia del Disegno in 1576 before relocating to Rome i...