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Leda and the Swan

Giovanni Battista Palumba

1510

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance Allegory

Dominant colour

Leda and the Swan is a 1510 ink by Giovanni Battista Palumba, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Giovanni Battista Palumba
When & what style?: 1510 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This engraving shows the myth of Leda and the swan. Zeus turns into a swan to seduce her. The scene feels urgent, with jagged lines and dark shadows. Palumba used cross-hatching—tight lines—to build texture and mood. This technique makes the swan’s feathers and Leda’s skin look almost real. The swan’s grip on her wrist stands out. Want to see more? Try Palumba, Giovanni Battista.