Peter Paul Rubens Greek and Roman Paintings Part 3

 Peter Paul Rubens Greek and Roman Paintings Part 3

 Well, lets get this show on the road. This painting shows the death of Achilles. He had gone to the temple of Apollo to make an offering. By this time he had conquered Troy. Behind him Apollo is guiding Paris. Paris has just shot through Achilles's heel. Its pretty cool how Achilles is dying. The poison and death is spreading from the leg to the rest of the body. He has just fallen and he already has the shadow of death. The man with the flower crown is the former king of Troy. The corner Gods are Venus with her cupid and Apollo with the death serpent. This means that love has slain him. Achilles here was in the process of marrying one of Priam's daughters. Anyhow, both Gods use arrows. In the center, a fox is devouring an eagle. The witty eating the mighty. All these elements add to the intensity of this stupid way of dying. Wait, didn't Achilles defile the temple of Apollo? It seems Apollo did not forgive him for that. In any case, Peter Paul Rubens deserves 5 star rating.

The next painting is called Democritus. I already said who this guy was. Here we see him with his globe. Old geezer, Greek robes, a smile and a cave. Nothing too far out there. 5 stars for Peter Paul Rubens. 

The next painting shows Diana Presenting the Catch to Pan. Diana is a hunter virgin Goddess. She gets along with the lech Pan. He brought her vegetarian food. Behind Pan, we see all his faun friends. Diana has some pretty cool hunting dogs. She has a few Amazons helping her carry the dead rabbits.  Both represent hunting and gathering. However, the roles are inverse. This time the women are the hunters and the men the gatherers. The spear separates both genders. Its a curious painting coming from a Catholic country. In any case, Peter Paul Rubens gets another 5 star rating.

 The next painting is called "Drunken Silenus". Silenus is another name for Bacchus. On the floor, we see a faun mother feeding her two chubby goat kids. Selenus is simply stumbling all over the place. There are drunk people everywhere. You only see these things these days at a frat party. What I like best is how the black slave is pinching Silenus' behind. In any case, this lovely little number deserves 5 star rating.

The next painting is simple enough. It shows the Head of Medusa. Pretty realistic too if you ask me. There is an entire assortment of poisonous snakes. From her neck, baby snakes are coming out. Cool, 5 stars for Peter Paul Rubens. 

The next painting shows Hygeia, Goddess of Health. You see, from the poison of snakes many cures are derived. For this reason, she has the healing snake with her. She is pouring in medicine into the mouth of the snake.  Her clothing are red is reference to the life blood. I think that is everything worth mentioning. 5 stars away!!

The next painting is called Juno and Argus. Juno is the goddess of marriage, wife of Zeus. Her symbol is the peacock. Argus is the Titan that has many eyes. She has just slain the beast and is taking his eyes to put it on her peacocks. Pretty sick if you ask me. Several of her attendants are helping her with this task. In any case, this beheading painting deserves 5 star rating.

The next painting is called Nature adorning the Three Graces. Nature is around the three graces in the form of food and vegetables. Several Fauns and Amazons are also adorning the Graces. The Graces themselves are adorning the statue of Nature. They are putting flowers and a veil over her. There are a lot of pleasant things to look at in this painting. The view of nature is derived from an ancient description of the Nature Goddess. In the tree tops, we see some wild men. I think that is all worth mentioning. This painting gets a 5 star rating. 

This painting is a no brainier. Its just pan reclining. Still, he does look realistic enough. 5 stars for this goat god. 

The next painting is called "Diana and Callisto".  Callisto was one of Diana's nymph. She had to remain a Virgin to be in the clear with Diana. However, Zeus disguised himself as Diana and slept with Callisto. Here Callisto is just returning to Diana all in shame. The nymphs look worried about her. Diana (the blonde being bathed by a black slave) was in the middle of her bath when Callisto arrived. This pitiful painting is 5 star worthy.

The next painting is called "Diana and her nymphs surprised by fauns".  The fauns are always trying to get crazy with the nymphs. Something about tasting the forbidden fruit. The only one not fleeing is Diana. She is about to throw a spear at one of the fauns. This event is parallel to the happenings in Vatican city during the baroque period. That is another interesting story in of itself. In any case, Rubens lively painting deserves 5 star rating.

The next painting shows a Drunken Bacchus with some Fauns. Simple enough. The scenery is far out. What I like is the realism of Bacchus' fat. In any case, this painting deserves 5 star rating.

The next painting is called " The Feast of Venus". Here we see three kinds of love. The faun is wild love, the poet is refined love and the hunter is crafty love. They represent three ways of wooing maidens. These three couples are dancing in front of fountain of Venus. There Venus sits next to her Cupid. All around the scenery we see Cupids flying about. Its pretty neat. In any case, this painting deserves 5 star rating.

The next painting is called " Hercules as heroic virtue overcoming Discord". This one is simple enough. All virtues are crowned by virtue or a cherub. This painting is really dramatic. 5 stars.  

The next painting is called " Hero and Leander".  This is a love story. Hero was a maiden that lived in a far away island. Her lover Leander would swim across the ocean to see her. One night there was a storm and he drowned. You see, Hero used to light a fire for him to find his way across. However, the wind that night kept putting it out. In this painting, the water nymphs are keeping his body afloat. Hero has just seen his dead body and has thrown herself off her tower. Hero here is the maiden in red falling head first into the water. This painting is really quite dramatic. The water is in turmoil. Pretty cool. 5 stars.

The next painting is called "Jupiter and Callisto". Jupiter ,in the shape of Diana, is wooing Callisto. Callisto has the arrows as a symbol. Behind Jupiter we see his eagle with the lightning bolts between his claws. The scene is taking in a forest at twilight. Pretty neat it you ask me. That Zeus is quite the rascal. I guess there are advantages of being a shape shifter God.In any case, this lovely painting has earned Peter Paul Rubens another 5 stars.

Here we see Leda and the Swam. A chick and a Swam. Those Greeks sure are crazy. Anyhow, the Swam was Zeus in disguise.  In any case, this cool painting deserves 5 star rating.

The next painting is called "Mars and Rhea Silvia". Rhea Silvia is the mother of Romulus and Remus. She was a Vestal Virgin and had sworn to be celibate for 30 years. She claimed that Mars was the  father of her children. Here Mars has just entered the temple to see Rhea. Mars is being guided by Cupid. Both do look very cute together. She is surprised at his sudden appearance. Then again, she became Celibate against her will. An evil king made her into a Vestal virgin to kill the kingship line from her side of the family. She was able to give birth to the two roman kings via Mars' interception. I think this is all worth mentioning. 5 stars for Peter Paul Rubens.

The next painting is called "Mercury and Argus". Mercury has just put Argus asleep. He wanted to save Io who had been turned into a cow by Hera. When Hera saw Argus sleeping on the job she slew him and decorated her peacock with his eyes. She is one evil, jealous lady. In any case, this painting deserves 5 star rating.

The last painting is called Nymphs and Satyrs. They are all having fun together. They represent the wild men and women of the forest. 5 stars. I hope that you like this Peter Paul Rubens post a lot.