After feasting with Achelous, he got involved in the battle between Lapiths and centaurs. then struck disaster with incest, suicide and violent death, before abducting Helen, and being thrown from a cliff.
Rubens
Humans have lived with trees since our origins, and trees feature in many paintings. This explains the importance of sketching them from life, and shows examples of different species and contrasting artists from Rubens and van Ruisdael to van Gogh and Cézanne.
A painting commissioned by the Grand Duke of Tuscany towards the end of the 30 Years’ War in Europe, details with its figures the suffering resulting from war, rather than the triumph of victory.
A painting for England’s King Charles I to encourage him to make peace with Spain, left by Rubens in 1630. Its figures make clear the meaning of war, as explained here.
Perseus kills the sea monster, and marries Andromeda as his reward. Phineus and his friends turn nasty at their wedding, and are turned to stone, and how the couple became constellations.
The talaria fashioned from gold by Vulcan for Hermes as messenger of the gods, and lent to Perseus when he was sent to bring back the head of Medusa/
When the centaur Nessus tries to abduct his wife, Hercules shoots him with a poisoned arrow. But Nessus gets his revenge when Hercules’ wife gives her husband a shirt impregnated with Nessus’ blood.
Well known for their fights and battles, Delacroix was fond of Chiron, Achilles tutor, but Pirithous and Hippodame regretted inviting them to their wedding feast.
Pairs of oil studies and finished paintings by Rubens, Géricault, Constable, Frith, Seurat, Eakins, Bierstadt and Cross.
Associated with the legendary story of the origin of Rome, a woodpecker kept a close eye on the twin infants Romulus and Remus. It’s also associated with the sorceress Circe.
