A brief overview of the legendary and mythical history of the city and its empire, with links to all the articles in this series, and some of the finest paintings.
legend
We journey on, through Thomas Cole’s classical city, to the Garden of Armida, briefly to Paradise, past the submerged city of Ys, ending up in a Surrealist vision of the Dorset coast.
With Umberto Eco as our guide, explore Parnassus, the Garden of Earthly Delights, Alcina’s island, Colchis, and the Garden of the Hesperides.
Very much a Modern Woman, she was in London during the height of the Pre-Raphaelite movement, when she painted her masterpiece of Elaine of Astolat.
Classical expectations are reinforced in the Bible, but clearly fade by New Testament times, when Jesus uses attitudes towards Samaritans in his teaching. By the 19th century, hospitality has been lost.
Three classical myths – Atlas turned to stone, Philemon and Baucis, and Leto and the Lycians turned into frogs. Why you should always show hospitality to strangers.
Rome saved from invasion of Lars Porsena and his Tuscans/Etruscans, by the bravery of one man, Horatius Cocles.
Lucretia’s rape and suicide, painted by Veronese, Artemisia Gentileschi, Rembrandt, and Kneller, and a wonderful David.
Paintings of the Frog Prince and variants by Marianne Stokes, Kolo Moser, and Pierre Bonnard. Medea by Sandys and Waterhouse.
He continued to paint religious works and folk tales after his spell in Kiev painting frescoes in the cathedral there.
The Eclectic Light Company 