Helle on a Ram 1504 - 1514

Editor: Here we have Pinturicchio’s oil painting, "Helle on a Ram," dating from the early 16th century. The landscape setting feels otherworldly, doesn't it? The gold background, the sea creatures... What am I supposed to make of all this? Curator: "Supposed to" is a heavy phrase. I would say, instead, what does it whisper to you? This isn't just a pretty picture; it’s an allegory, steeped in the myths of Ovid, rendered in oil paint. Helle, escaping on a ram, guarded by winged cupids astride fanciful sea monsters. Pinturicchio gives us his personal translation, and then *we* re-translate *that*. What do *you* translate when you see this, personally? Editor: I guess…a journey, but a precarious one? Helle doesn't look particularly happy. Almost resigned. And the creatures seem… well, decorative. More like ornaments than guardians. Curator: Exactly! Mannerism is a ballet of balance between seriousness and playful adornment. Pinturicchio winks while recounting a grand historical drama. Think of the glittering gold background, typical of devotional works; juxtapose this with pagan mythology. It's the visual equivalent of a great joke told with utmost seriousness. Editor: So, it’s not just *what* is depicted, but *how*. I missed that playfulness at first glance! Curator: Precisely. The artist's brush becomes a storyteller's wink, altering our understanding of narrative. And these unexpected choices…*that's* where the real magic happens! Editor: Right. Now that you point it out, it brings such a special point of view on the story. Curator: A painting like this asks us to read between brushstrokes and color choices as much as the scene. Hopefully, that allows a connection to form for all viewers.