Galatea (engraving)

Galatea is depicted at the center of a chaotic maritime scene, looking back over her shoulder while holding the reins of her dolphin team. Around her, muscular tritons embrace sea nymphs and blow into conch shells, while three winged cupids hover in the sky aiming arrows at her. This engraving translates Raphael's famous Roman fresco into a graphic medium, using dense cross-hatching to define the twisting forms of the figures.

This work embodies the Renaissance Neoplatonic pursuit of ideal beauty, where Galatea serves as an allegory for the soul's movement toward divine grace. The imagery is deeply rooted in the humanist environment of the early 16th century, specifically referencing the classical poetry revived by figures like Angelo Poliziano.