The Rape of Proserpina, c. 1592-1607, Giuseppe Scolari, Italian (Venice), Italian (Venice), active 1592¡V1607, 17 3/4 ¡Ñ 13 3/4 in. (45.09 ¡Ñ 34.93 cm) (image)18 1/8 ¡Ñ 14 3/16 in. (46.04 ¡Ñ 36.04 cm) (sheet), Woodcut, Italy, 16th-17th century, This is the story of the Rape of Proserpina from Ovid¡¦s 'Metamorphosis.' Pluto, god of the Underworld, saw Proserpina, daughter of Ceres, goddess of grain and agriculture, gathering flowers in a field and was seized by love and lust. He captured the young maiden on his chariot and opened a giant chasm in the earth to carry her to the Underworld. Scolari depicts the abduction as a noisy, violent spectacle. The beautiful naked maiden appears in the upper left corner helplessly struggling against the strength of Pluto, while the violent descent of Pluto¡¦s horses into the flames of Hades takes center stage.