Jupiter and Juno seated on clouds, with an eagle holding thunderbolts below at left
Original title: Jupiter and Juno seated on clouds, with an eagle holding thunderbolts below at left
kurzbeschreibung
Jupiter and Juno sit enthroned on clouds, with an eagle below them on the left holding lightning bolts. This print by Willem Panneels is dated 1631. Jupiter appears barefoot and crowned, while Juno also wears a crown and a robe.
Description
On a bed of clouds, Jupiter and Juno sit close together, their postures intimate and turned toward each other. The god is barefoot and wears a crown; the goddess is crowned and draped in flowing garments. In the lower left, an eagle holds a lightning bolt in its beak. The sky is rendered as a realm of clouds through dense, delicate strokes.
Context
Willem Panneels made this etching in 1631, likely in Antwerp, where he worked as a copper engraver and publisher. Two states of the work are recorded; the present example belongs to the second. The sheet bears the signature 'F.V.W.' and the date 1631.
Impact
A calm, majestic mood emanates from the print. The soft clouds and the tender closeness of the gods contribute to this. The drawing, with its fine lines, gives the sky an almost tactile texture.
Technique
The etching was made by biting the drawing into a copper plate. It was printed in two states; the second is present here. The dimensions are 17.8 × 14.4 cm, and the sheet has been trimmed.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)