Plate 27: Semele's Wish (Semele divino Ious concubitu occiditur), from Ovid's 'Metamorphoses'

Art Historical Context

Behold Plate 27: *Semele's Wish (Semele divino Ious concubitu occiditur)* from Antonio Tempesta's masterful 1606 etching series illustrating Ovid's *Metamorph*. This intimate print, measuring just over 4 by 4 inches, captures pivotal moment from classical mythology: Semele, mortal lover of Jupiter (us), succumbs to her fatal desire to behold the god in his full divine glory. Tricked by the jealous Juno, Semele perishes in a blaze of lightning, transforming into the starry Corona Borealis—a tale of hubris, passion, and metamorphosis that captivated Renaissance audiences. Tempesta, a prolific Italian artist (1555–1630 renowned for his dynamic Baroque etchings, excelled in translating ancient myths into vivid, narrative scenes. Etching, his chosen, allowed for intricate lines and dramatic contrasts on a small scale, making these prints affordable and widely collectible. Here, motifs like soaring eagles (Jupiter's emblem) and strutting peacocks (Juno's sacred birds) heighten the mythological drama, blending human figures with divine symbols in a bustling composition. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, this work from The Elisha Whittelsey Collection exemplifies the 17th-century revival of Ovid's poetry, fueling art, literature, and theater across Europe. A tiny window into eternal stories, it invites us to ponder the perils of glimpsing the divine.

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...