Circe Giving Drink to the Companions of Ulysses

1540s

Circe Giving Drink to the Companions of Ulysses, 1540s. Attributed to Antonio da Trento (Italian, c. 1508–c. 1550), after Parmigianino (Italian, 1503–1540). Chiaroscuro woodcut; The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of The Print Club of Cleveland 1925.1220 This print is the second state of a chiaroscuro woodcut by Antonio da Trento after a drawing by Parmigianino. Andrea Andreani added the double A monogram and his address in the lower-left corner. This chiaroscuro woodcut depicts a scene from the Homer's epic poem Odyssey. During his journey back from the Trojan War, Odysseus (or Ulysses) visits the island of Aeaea. There, he meets the sorceress Circe, who changes most of his crew into swine. In this print, the enchantress is offering Ulysses's companions a cup containing a magical potion in order to bring them under her spell. Parmigianino's drawing, which Antonio da Trento used as a model for his print, was allegedly stolen by da Trento, alongside other examples by Parmigianino.