Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione

Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione’s etching Circe with companions of Ulysees changed into animals (1650–1651), demonstrates the artist’s technical skill and particular interest in depicting animals and mythical subjects. This print centres on Circe, the daughter of the Sun god Helios and the oceanic nymph Perse. A beautiful and powerful sorceress, Circe was adept at brewing potions and casting spells. According to famed Greek writer Homer in his epic poem “The Odyssey”, Circe feeds the male companions of the Greek King Ulysses a concocted potion and, with the help of her wand, transforms them into beasts.¹ In Castiglione’s depiction of this tale, the men are transformed into animals, such as peacock, sheep, and deer. This menagerie is an unusual selection of creatures, given that the pig is the animal most commonly associated with this fable.² References to animism may be read into this artwork, reinforcing the belief that all living things possess a human-like soul and inherent spirit. Castiglione’s intention in this regard, however, remains obscure. The assortment of armour that lies at Circe’s feet is testament to the metamorphosis from man to beast, hinting at a cautionary tale of predation and cruel revenge. Fear of feminine power and sexuality also infuses this artwork, with Circe poised as the destabilising force against the erotic impulses of man.

An intriguing element of this print is that Castiglione depicts Circe as melancholic, which recalls the form and disposition of figures regularly seen in works by Albrecht Dürer. At that time, melancholia was believed to represent an excess of black bile within the human body, which led to sinful behaviour and depression.³ Castiglione rendered eight depictions of Circe throughout his lifetime, each of which presented the sorceress as a melancholic, wand-wielding enchantress, thus a malevolent trickster and wrongdoer.⁴