River gods from Rubens, Poussin, Coypel and Boucher, with Naiads from Walter Crane, JW Waterhouse, Henrietta Rae and others.
Mengs
January is named after the Roman god of transitions, Janus, and is the first month of the New Year. Or is it? Classical civilisations more usually started their year in Spring, and what’s this about Juno?
In classical times, they were strummed like a guitar rather than plucked. Apollo, Orpheus and lyric poets from Raphael, Rubens, Waterhouse and others.
Janus, Hecate, the personification of Deceit, Cerberus guardian of the Underworld, and the Lernean Hydra.
The other half of the festival of Easter has been painted far less. Yet without Resurrection, Easter and all Christian belief would be worthless.
It’s a good story that the first month of the year is named January after the two-faced god of transitions, Janus. It’s a shame that isn’t exactly true.
After a 4-year apprenticeship, Goya struggled to get further training. He spent two years in Rome, but on his return won his first major commission, for a huge fresco.
Paintings from Spain 1757-1775 which would have influenced the young Goya in his early career. Dominant among them was Anton Raphael Mengs, German painter in Rome!
The god of transitions, gates and doorways, who may have lent his name to the month of January. Paintings by Rubens, Poussin and Mengs.
Nine daughters of Mnemosyne representing each division of the classical arts. Paintings from Raphael to Moreau.
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