Original engraving and drypoint, Bartsch XV, 462.3;
Superb and very rare specimen rich in all the nuances of drypoint. Small margin beyond the engraved part. A minor abrasion along the lower margin, left, and a small restored gap along the upper margin, right.
In this work, the author is inspired by pagan traditions, showing an ensemble of mythical and human figures linked to the imagery of the sea. Leading the procession is a man with a shofar, a wind instrument from the Jewish tradition, used to represent celestial music. The musician is followed by animals linked to Greek myths such as sea horses, symbols of strength and companions of Neptune's chariot, and other animals that have arisen from the artist's imagination, such as the figures at the head of the procession. The work embodies a fascination with the mystical world of the time. There are indeed references to vanitas, witchcraft and alchemy: subjects that sought to explore nature in all its forms.
One of the most captivating and desirable subjects of Italian Renaissance engraving art.