Niobe had seven sons and seven daughters, which must have made her better than Latona, who only had 2 children. Snag was, there were Apollo and Diana.
narrative
Wherever you are on earth, you should be able to see the constellation of Orion, when clouds permit. What was his story? Only one painting helps.
Rich in wordplay, this story is almost unique to Ovid. It was oddly prescient of his own later banishment too.
The final story in Book 5 tells of the spread of grain cultivation through Europe, and attempted murder.
Marie’s plan to bring peace to Europe is implemented in double royal weddings. The paintings say it brought a new age to France, but history says otherwise.
An introduction to some of the history and panegyric behind Rubens’ Marie de’ Medici Cycle, in the Louvre.
The story of how the nymph Arethusa escapes pursuit by a river god, thanks to the divine intervention of Diana.
A shocking story of the abduction of a young girl by the king of the underworld, but told with sensitivity. And accompanied by some outstanding paintings.
Knowing when one of Turner’s paintings is narrative can be very tricky. But there are dangers in over-interpretation. Here are some ideas to assist in their reading.
Was Cyrus an evil conqueror with a lust for blood? How a legendary queen became a role model for European monarchs, with the visual support of Rubens.
