The Mocking of Ceres: a nocturnal scene with Ceres drinking from a jug of water given to her by Stellio at right

Art Historical Context

This etching captures a dramatic moment from classical mythology, drawn from Ovid’s *Metamorphoses*. The scene depicts the goddess Ceres, weary from her search for her daughter Proserpina, accepting a jug of water from a boy named Stellio. In the story, the child mocks the goddess and is swiftly transformed into a lizard as punishment—an episode that highlights themes of hospitality, divine retribution, and the blurred line between human and animal realms. Created in 1633, the print reflects the enduring influence of Adam Elsheimer, whose innovative nocturnal compositions profoundly shaped European art in the early seventeenth century. Although the etching is attributed to printmakers such as Hendrick Goudt or Bernardino Capitelli, it faithfully reproduces Elsheimer’s celebrated painting, disseminating his distinctive use of artificial light and intimate scale to a wider audience. The medium of etching allows for fine tonal gradations that enhance the nighttime atmosphere, with deep shadows punctuated by the soft glow illuminating Ceres and her companions. Measuring roughly 13 by 10 inches, the sheet exemplifies how reproductive prints served as vital tools for sharing artistic ideas across Europe. Today in the Metropolitan Museum’s collection, it invites viewers to appreciate both the mythological narrative and the technical mastery that made such luminous night scenes possible in print form.