One of five reliefs with scenes from Ovid's Metamorphoses

Ovid’s tales of transformation had particular resonance for artists since so much of their practice consists of turning raw materials almost magically into finely wrought works of art. Metamorphosis has a particular meaning in the context of bronze casting, in which copper, tin, and lead are combined and melted down in a kiln before being poured into a mold to harden into a finished sculpture.