Triumph of Galatea with Tritons, Nereids and Putti

Galatea is depicted in a dynamic pose, holding the reins of two dolphins as she glides across the water amidst a boisterous procession of mythological figures. On the left, a Triton seizes a Nereid, while on the right, another blows a conch shell; above them, three cupids aim their arrows directly at the central figure. The composition is characterized by a swirling, circular energy that centers on the calm expression of the goddess.

This scene embodies the Neoplatonic concept of 'Universal Beauty,' as Raphael famously wrote that he painted Galatea not from a human model, but from an 'idea' in his mind. The work reflects the High Renaissance synthesis of classical pagan mythology and the philosophical revival of Plato and Plotinus.