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.
Rubens
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.
Not just superb paintings, but one of the great visual tropes of Western art, and one of the best wedding speeches ever.
An ingenious telling of the story of Perseus rescuing Andromeda from the jaws of a sea monster results in many superb paintings.
With no diplomatic mission to accomplish, and an open commission, Rubens was free to express his experience of war.
When you’re a great narrative painter and a diplomat, one painting might be all that is needed to secure a peace treaty.
At the heart of Deianira’s letter to Hercules was the strange story of his enslavement to Omphale. Here are the paintings.
Looking and sniffing at one of the toughest non-visual theme for paintings. Can any go beyond mere allegory and ev0ke the sensation?
The slaying of a dragon/serpent, and transformation of its teeth into warriors, make for five superb paintings spanning most of the story.
Less than 30 lines of the book are devoted to the abduction of Europa, which has become its best-known and most-often painted story.
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