Narcissus

Antonio Tempesta (1555-1630), etching, 1606

The Italian artist Antonio Tempesta made multiple prints of Narcissus. This one belongs to a series of 150 prints depicting scenes from Ovid’s Metamorphoses. Here Tempesta depicted water flowing from an ornament in the shape of a lion’s head, in accordance with Greek and Roman custom. The caption emphasizes the flower into which Narcissus is transformed after his death.

  • Artwork typeprint
  • Object numberRP-P-OB-37.802
  • Dimensionsheight 104 mm x width 117 mm
  • Physical characteristicsets