Minos, Iaco and Radamantis c. 18th century

Editor: This print, by Ambroise Tardieu, depicts Minos, Iaco, and Radamanthus. It feels somber, almost mournful, with that shrouded figure in the corner. Curator: Note the title is rendered as "Minos, Iaco y Radamanto" - the artist was likely producing this work for a Spanish-speaking audience. The labor required to produce engravings like this, and their wide distribution, brought classical themes to a broader public. Editor: The composition draws the eye. The judges are arranged on an ascending plane, leading back into the shadowy archway. The figures are highly stylized. Curator: Right, the medium itself, the engraving process, lends to this stylized approach. Notice also the small inscription indicating that it was engraved in Paris. Editor: So, the themes of justice, judgment, the underworld… they're all intensified by the stark contrast of light and shadow. It's quite powerful. Curator: Indeed. Considering Tardieu's background and the political climate, the image may even allude to contemporary notions of justice and authority.