Leto

Leto (c. 1585-88), in the Slovak National Gallery, depicts the mythological titaness who was mother of Apollo and Diana by Jupiter — a relatively unusual subject in Italian painting. Annibale's treatment likely shows Leto fleeing the jealous Juno or seeking refuge on the island of Delos, episodes from the complex mythological narrative surrounding her divine offspring. The painting dates from Annibale's early Bolognese period, when he was experimenting with mythological subjects alongside the genre scenes and religious paintings that would establish his reputation. The Slovak National Gallery's Italian holdings include works acquired through various European collecting channels during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

The female figure is modeled with the soft, Correggesque sfumato that Annibale favored for mythological nudes. Warm flesh tones are set against a landscape background of muted greens and blues, creating a harmonious tonal unity.