Luna, from Planets, plate 7 1530 - 1570

Editor: We’re looking at "Luna, from Planets, plate 7" made between 1530 and 1570 by Giulio Bonasone. It’s currently at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It's an engraving depicting several figures, and the detail is incredible. I find the central figure captivating – powerful, yet strangely serene. What strikes you when you look at this print? Curator: Ah, Bonasone! He had such a flair. This engraving is brimming with classical allegory. "Luna" refers to the Roman goddess of the moon, often associated with femininity and cycles. What seems serene to you, I see as the serene power of those endless rhythms! Her depiction, almost ethereal, contrasts sharply with the solid earthiness of the bull beneath her, doesn’t it? Notice the companion embracing Luna? Perhaps this is the 'new moon'. How do you see this relationship? Editor: I hadn’t considered the contrast like that, with the earthly bull. It definitely adds another layer. It makes me think about how the moon influences the tides. Also the New Moon point, in which maybe the figures surrounding Luna are phases. But all the symbolism kind of makes my head spin... Curator: It can be a bit much! But consider the historical context. Bonasone and his contemporaries were reviving classical mythology and incorporating it into their art, seeking meaning and connections in the celestial realm. This wasn’t just decoration, it was philosophy made visible! I always imagine Bonasone pondering how these ancient symbols echo in the modern, busy and burgeoning cities. What new stories, do you think, would he have drawn on in our era? Editor: That's a fascinating question! Maybe technology, or… I don’t know, climate change? That makes me think differently about how timeless yet of-the-moment this artwork might have felt in its own time. Curator: Exactly! And perhaps that’s the real magic, seeing the enduring human drive to find meaning and connection in the world around us – no matter the era, medium, or symbolic language.