Seashells appear in Turner’s myths, Dyce’s fresco for Queen Victoria, twice in Elihu Vedder’s work, and in Odilon Redon’s. And a story from Rubens about seashells and colour.
myth
Huge clam shells were a common feature in paintings of the birth of Venus, and other classical myths. They also feature in many ‘vanitas’ paintings.
From Aphrodite to Vesta, a reference summary of all the major Classical goddesses, with links to individual accounts.
From Aesculapius to Zeus, key features of each of the major male deities in classical myths, and links to individual articles here.
Wonderful paintings by Reni, Fragonard, Evelyn De Morgan, Poussin, Rubens, and a very unusual late Fantin-Latour.
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.
Easily confused with Artemis (Diana), her sign is the crescent moon, and her lover is Endymion, who despite sleeping forever, fathered her 50 daughters.
Not just a pretty atmospheric effect, she’s a messenger of the gods, and is involved in many myths. Superb paintings by Guérin, Fuseli and others.
An exotic import until the Romans enlisted her support against the Carthaginians, her chariot is drawn by a lion and lioness – who desecrated an old shrine.
One of the most frequently painted of the classical deities, this is out of all proportion to her tiny role in the pantheon. From Ricci to Waterhouse.
