Tisiphone Rains Madness on Athamas and Ino - Johann Wilhelm Baur

A detailed seventeenth-century etching by Johann Wilhelm Baur depicting the mythological moment when the Fury Tisiphone inflicts madness upon Athamas and Ino.

This etching by Johann Wilhelm Baur depicts a dramatic scene from Ovid's Metamorphoses. The Fury Tisiphone descends from a cloud, casting madness upon King Athamas and his wife Ino. Baur, a German artist active during the early seventeenth century, demonstrates his command of the etching medium through precise line work and a clear sense of theatrical staging. The composition is organised to guide the viewer from the central figures of the king and queen, who react with alarm, toward the supernatural figure of the Fury above.

Baur spent significant time in Italy, where he absorbed the influence of contemporary printmakers and the dramatic lighting characteristic of the Baroque period. His work often features architectural settings that provide a stage for mythological narratives. In this print, the classical columns and tiled floor establish a sense of depth, while the swirling clouds surrounding Tisiphone introduce a dynamic, non-naturalistic element to the scene. The figures are rendered with expressive gestures, capturing the sudden intrusion of divine wrath into a domestic interior.

As a printmaker, Baur was known for his ability to condense complex literary narratives into single, readable images. This work reflects the seventeenth-century interest in classical mythology as a subject for visual art. The etching technique allows for fine detail in the drapery of the garments and the textures of the architectural elements. By focusing on the moment of psychological disruption, Baur creates a narrative tension that remains clear despite the small scale of the original plate. This print is a representative example of his illustrative style, which prioritised clarity of action and the integration of figures within a structured, often theatrical, environment.