Leda and the Swan, c. 1710
Antonio Montautiexpand_more
Bronzeexpand_more
The Putnam Dana McMillan Fundexpand_more 78.63.1
On View in Gallery 310expand_more
Zeus, the ancient Greek god of the sky and thunder, desired Leda, the beautiful wife of Tyndareus, king of Sparta. To win her affection, he assumed the elegant guise of a swan and approached her on a riverbank. In Montauti’s work, the two are shown in a tender embrace, with the swan inclining intently to meet the mortal Leda’s affectionate gaze. Their close eye contact suggests they share not only a physical attraction—the main focus of most artistic representations of the subject—but a psychological attraction as well. Note too the variety of vivid surface textures the artist achieves, from Leda’s supple flesh to the swan’s delicate plumage to the misty vapor of the cloud that encircles both figures.
Details
- Title
- Leda and the Swan
- Artist Life
- 1683–1746
- Role
- Artist
- Dimension
- 18 in. (45.72 cm)
- Accession Number
- 78.63.1
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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