Circe Giving a Drink to Ulysses's Companions 1540 - 1545

Editor: Here we have Antonio Fantuzzi’s "Circe Giving a Drink to Ulysses's Companions," a print made between 1540 and 1545. The whole composition feels turbulent, with all these figures and swirling lines. I'm curious, what kind of symbols jump out at you? Curator: Notice the circle, itself an ancient symbol of totality and eternity. It encloses Circe, a figure draped in flowing robes, and the beseeching companion of Ulysses. Consider the serpent coiled at Circe’s feet: throughout history, serpents have been linked to both healing and deceit. And, of course, Ulysses' companion in the act of supplication! What story does that tell? Editor: Well, I remember the story. She’s about to transform him – and has already transformed others – into animals! So, the snake makes sense, given Circe's treacherous nature here. Curator: Exactly! The act of kneeling signifies powerlessness, vulnerability before Circe’s magic. Does it evoke any parallels within later historical events? Editor: You mean like, someone begging a ruler? Oh, the snake now reminds me of the tempting serpent from the Garden of Eden. It shows just how layered the symbolism can be! Curator: Precisely. Fantuzzi’s image taps into deep wells of cultural memory. The viewer at the time would recognize Circe and automatically place the image within its mythological and symbolic context. So this print serves as a point of cultural continuity, reaffirming the viewer's understanding of that shared narrative. The figures inhabit roles; how can these roles be expressed again in the centuries after, and how are the stories retold, or made relevant, anew? Editor: That’s amazing, it gives me so much more to think about how artists retell old stories with visual symbolism!