Minerva Changing Arachne into a Spider
1676
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
1676
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Minerva Changing Arachne into a Spider is a 1676 ink by Jean Lepautre, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This image shows a dramatic scene in black and white. A standing figure with a helmet and flowing robe points upward, while a person on the ground curls up in pain. Behind them, a curtain frames the action, and a small figure in the distance watches from a doorway. The standing figure holds a tool that looks like a spindle or distaff, and the person on the ground is twisting into a shape that suggests a spider. The scene feels tense and full of movement, even though it’s just lines and shadows. If this style of printing interests you, look up etching.
