Jupiter and Io (recto); sketch of a male figure stabbing himself in the chest (verso)

Attributed to Francesco Salviati (Francesco de' Rossi) Italian

Not on view

Portraying a story from Ovid’s Metamorphoses, this sheet depicts Jupiter and the beautiful young Io. After enveloping Io in a dark cloud, Jupiter seduced her and, to conceal her identity from his wife Juno, transformed Io into a heifer (portrayed at lower left). The sculpturesque figures reveal the inspiration of Michelangelo. The drawing has been squared in red chalk, a technique used to transfer the design to another surface -- although its intended destination is unknown. Francesco Salviati studied in Florence and worked in Rome and various Northern Italian cities as a painter (especially of frescoes), a designer for tapestries, goldsmith’s work, prints, and book illustrations.

Jupiter and Io (recto); sketch of a male figure stabbing himself in the chest (verso), Attributed to Francesco Salviati (Francesco de' Rossi) (Italian, Florence 1510–1563 Rome), Pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash, over traces of black chalk; squared in red chalk (recto); pen and gray ink (verso)

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Jupiter and Io (recto); sketch of a male figure stabbing himself in the chest (verso), Attributed to Francesco Salviati (Francesco de' Rossi) (Italian, Florence 1510–1563 Rome), Pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash, over traces of black chalk; squared in red chalk (recto); pen and gray ink (verso)
Jupiter and Io (recto); sketch of a male figure stabbing himself in the chest (verso), Attributed to Francesco Salviati (Francesco de' Rossi) (Italian, Florence 1510–1563 Rome), Pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash, over traces of black chalk; squared in red chalk (recto); pen and gray ink (verso)
Jupiter and Io (recto); sketch of a male figure stabbing himself in the chest (verso), Attributed to Francesco Salviati (Francesco de' Rossi) (Italian, Florence 1510–1563 Rome), Pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash, over traces of black chalk; squared in red chalk (recto); pen and gray ink (verso)

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