Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae: Satyr (Satyrus in caedibus) 1530 - 1580

This engraving, titled *Satyr* is from the *Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae* and was created by an anonymous artist. The print series offers a vision into 16th-century Rome, reflecting an era of rediscovery of classical antiquity and burgeoning artistic expression. In this image, a satyr carries a basket overflowing with fruit, an allusion to fertility and the abundance of nature. These creatures were often associated with revelry and untamed sexuality. The satyr is rendered with an unapologetic display of physicality, a celebration of the uninhibited body. The satyr, a hybrid creature, embodies a liminal state, between human and animal. This speaks to the period's negotiation between pagan past and Christian present. The image presents a complex tapestry of desire, power, and the cultural imagination of the time.