Ixion

Hendrik Goltzius, after Cornelis Cornelisz van Haarlem

National Gallery of Art

This is an illustration showing a man falling through clouds and flames with a look of horror on his face. The drawing depicts a muscular figure in a state of distress, descending through voluminous clouds. The figure's contorted body and facial expression suggest turmoil. Below, there are plumes of fire and smoke adding a sense of impending doom or descent into an infernal region. The detailed line work and shading capture the chaotic motion and intense emotion of the scene, enclosed within a circular border where Latin text is inscribed.