Coronis Changed into a Crow

The scene captures the moment of metamorphosis, with large feathered wings sprouting from the arms of the fleeing Coronis as she looks back at her pursuer. Neptune is depicted as a powerful, muscular figure holding a trident, while the background features his chariot pulled by hippocamps and sailing ships on a choppy sea. This engraving is part of a series illustrating stories of transformation, characterized by the dynamic, exaggerated anatomy of the Haarlem Mannerist style.

As an illustration of Ovid’s Metamorphoses, this work reflects the Renaissance fascination with the theme of mutable forms and the tension between divine desire and mortal preservation. In the intellectual circles of the late 16th century, such images were often read as allegories for the transformative powers of nature and the artist's ability to render the process of change itself.