Jupiter und Antiope

Jupiter and Antiope

In his Metamorphoses, Ovid relates how the god Jupiter disguised himself as a satyr in order to seduce Antiope, the beautiful daughter of King Nycteus of Thebes. In his lewd depiction of the story, Goltzius shows her asleep, sprawled amidst luxurious cushions, as the lecherous god approaches her. Vibrant colours and bold, sculptural forms increase the drama of the scene.