Leda and the Swan 

This bronze plaquette of Leda and the Swan was created in Padua, Italy, in the late 15th or early 16th century by Andrea Riccio. Riccio, whose name translates to curly, was a Renaissance sculptor known for his small bronzes, often drawing on classical mythology. Here, Leda embraces Zeus, who has taken the form of a swan. The myth is a violent one, wherein Zeus seduces or rapes Leda. Renaissance artists often grappled with portraying these stories, caught between classical themes, and contemporary moral concerns. The intimacy of Riccio's depiction complicates any singular interpretation. Is this a scene of loving embrace, or is Leda caught in a moment of violation? The ambiguity forces us to consider the myth's darker elements while acknowledging the beauty and sensuality that Renaissance artists found in classical subjects. The plaquette becomes a site where power, desire, and vulnerability intersect.