Farnesina Raffael Galatea

Galatea is depicted at the center of a maritime procession, her red cloak billowing as she holds the reins of two dolphins. She is surrounded by sea-deities, including tritons blowing conch shells and nymphs being carried through the waves, while winged cupids aim arrows from the sky. The composition is characterized by a swirling, circular motion that centers on the calm gaze of the nymph.

This fresco represents the Renaissance Neoplatonic pursuit of 'ideal beauty'; Raphael famously claimed he painted Galatea not from a single model, but from a mental 'idea' of perfection. The scene is based on the poetry of Angelo Poliziano, an influential figure in the Neoplatonic circles of the Medici and Marsilio Ficino.