The Triumph of Galatea c. 1535

Girolamo da Treviso's drawing of *The Triumph of Galatea*, rendered in ink on paper, captures a scene of classical exuberance with dramatic contrasts. The composition is dominated by the sweeping diagonal of Galatea’s shell-chariot, pulled by dolphins, set against turbulent waters. The artist’s skilled use of chiaroscuro creates depth and dynamism, drawing the eye across the tableau of frolicking figures. Cupid’s flutter above, their forms delicately rendered, introducing a sense of playful chaos. Treviso’s graphic style evokes the influence of classical sculpture and Renaissance ideals, yet it also subtly destabilizes fixed meanings. The scene teeters between order and disarray. We see a celebration of beauty and power, with the underlying tension inherent in the mythological narrative. This tension between classical ideals and dynamic movement embodies the complexities of human desire and divine will.