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Jupiter

Gabriele Giolito de' Ferrara

1534

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance Allegory

Dominant colour

Jupiter is a 1534 ink by Gabriele Giolito de' Ferrara, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Gabriele Giolito de' Ferrara
When & what style?: 1534 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This print is packed with strange, swirling scenes. At the center, a robed man holds a baby while another man kneels beside him. Above them, a winged figure labeled "Jupiter" sits on a cloud, throwing lightning bolts. Around the edges, tiny people and animals mix with fancy scrolls and odd symbols. The artist used sharp lines and no color—just black and white. This style was common for prints back then. The words at the bottom are in Italian, hinting at a moral lesson. Next, check out how this woodcut technique worked.