A selection of meals eaten outdoors, by the gods, in Boccaccio’s Decameron, Manet’s controversial luncheon, and by a boating party.
Jordaens
Known from her wedding, which led to the Trojan War, and for being the mother of the Greek warrior Achilles, she is well-known in paintings.
Goddess of youth, and cupbearer to the Olympian deities, she was a popular guise for portraits, and shown in a few mythological paintings.
Wisdom, crafts including weaving, and warfare, she’s a popular figure in paintings from Mantegna to Klimt, and a contestant in the Judgement of Paris.
Atlas, who bears the heavens on his shoulders. Prometheus, who deceived Zeus and was bound by chains as punishment, an eagle eating his liver each day. Epimetheus, who married Pandora.
God of the sea, there’s more to him than the white-bearded ancient mariner. Paintings by Crane, Poussin, Dyce and others.
Usually seen with peacocks, she has her work cut out keeping an eye on her husband Zeus and his many adulterous affairs.
Ever noticed how stern everyone looks in paintings? Here are some exceptions from Frans Hals, Murillo, Vermeer and others.
She provided the prize of a golden apple for the beauty contest between Hera, Minerva and Aphrodite, which led to the Trojan War.
The first caused war between centaurs and humans, in the second many were turned into stone, and the third caused the Trojan War
