Galatea escaping Polyphemus

This engraving is from the workshop of Marcantonio Raimondi, the first major Italian printmaker, and is often attributed to his leading assistant Marco Dente, also known as Marco da Ravenna (1493-1527). It depicts Galatea escaping Polyphemus; he is seated on a rock holding a staff and pipes and looking towards Galatea at right, who is riding a shell pulled by two dolphins, while Cupid is flying above. The print is styled on an ancient bas relief. It is mounted in the so-called King George IV album of Old Master prints, acquired by the Dominion Museum, forerunner of Te Papa, in 1910.

Dr Mark Stocker       Curator, Historical International Art   February 2017