The Prima Macchina for the Chinea of 1739: Mount Parnassus with Apollo, the Muses, and Pegasus

Miguel de Sorellò, after Pierre Parrocel, after Michelangelo Specchi

National Gallery of Art

This is a drawing of a scene on Mount Parnassus. Various figures are depicted on rocky cliffs with a backdrop of trees and clouds. At the top, there is a figure with a radiant aura, alongside mythical creatures like a winged horse. The scene is dynamic and dramatic, with figures in various poses, some gesturing upwards, others seated or leaning on rocks. The foreground shows figures in contemplative postures, gazing upwards towards the gathering above. The detailed line work conveys depth and texture, typical of classical mythological illustrations.