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Myths and legends

Gods, heroes and nymphs of classical myth. 87 works, grouped by the museums' own subject tags and titles. Paintings first, then in date order.

87works
40average lightness (0–100)
14average colourfulness
-1069–1949dates

Combined colour mix

Brown 27% · Black 26% · Grey 18% · Gold & ochre 16% · White & cream 5%

Artists here: Hendrick Goltzius (4), Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot (3), Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (2), Paul Cézanne (2), Peter Paul Rubens (1), Giovanni Battista Piranesi (1), William Henry Fox Talbot (1), Nadar (Gaspard Félix Tournachon) (1), Odilon Redon (1)

Funerary Papyrus of Tayuhenutmut, Ancient Egyptian Funerary Papyrus of Tayuhenutmut Ancient Egyptian, Third Intermediate Period, probably Dynasty 21 (about 1069-945 BCE) Mural Fragment Depicting a Maguey Bloodletting Ritual, Teotihuacan Mural Fragment Depicting a Maguey Bloodletting Ritual Teotihuacan, 500–600 CE Saint George and the Dragon, Bernat Martorell Saint George and the Dragon Bernat Martorell, 1434–35 The Adventures of Ulysses, Apollonio di Giovanni The Adventures of Ulysses Apollonio di Giovanni, 1435–45 Phaeton Driving the Chariot of Phoebus, Northern Italian Phaeton Driving the Chariot of Phoebus Northern Italian, 1475–1500 Queen Trishala Gives Birth to Mahavira, from a copy of the Kalpasutra, Unknown artist Queen Trishala Gives Birth to Mahavira, from a copy of the Kalpasutra Unknown artist, c. 1475-1500 Mahavira Gives Away his Possessions, from a copy of the Kalpasutra, Unknown artist Mahavira Gives Away his Possessions, from a copy of the Kalpasutra Unknown artist, c. 1480-1490 The Dream of Paris, Monogrammist PG The Dream of Paris Monogrammist PG, 1536 Icon with the Virgin and Child, Cretan Icon with the Virgin and Child Cretan, c. 1500 The Infant Bacchus, Giovanni Bellini The Infant Bacchus Giovanni Bellini, probably 1505/1510 Venus and Cupid, Lorenzo Lotto Venus and Cupid Lorenzo Lotto, 1520s The Temptation of Saint Jerome, Giorgio Vasari The Temptation of Saint Jerome Giorgio Vasari, 1541–48 Venus and Adonis, Titian Venus and Adonis Titian, 1550s Venus and Cupid, Luca Cambiaso Venus and Cupid Luca Cambiaso, c. 1570 The Judgement of Paris, Stradanus The Judgement of Paris Stradanus, c. 1575 Mars and Venus United by Love, Paolo Veronese Mars and Venus United by Love Paolo Veronese, 1570s Diana and Actaeon, Jacopo Bassano Diana and Actaeon Jacopo Bassano, 1585–92 Venus and Mars with Cupid and the Three Graces in a Landscape, Domenico Tintoretto Venus and Mars with Cupid and the Three Graces in a Landscape Domenico Tintoretto, 1585–95 The Battle between the Gods and the Giants, Joachim Wtewael The Battle between the Gods and the Giants Joachim Wtewael, c. 1608 Venus, Cupid and Ceres, Cornelis van Haarlem Venus, Cupid and Ceres Cornelis van Haarlem, 1604 Aeneas Rescuing Anchises from Burning Troy, Hendrick van Steenwijck, the Younger Aeneas Rescuing Anchises from Burning Troy Hendrick van Steenwijck, the Younger, c. 1610 Jupiter Rebuked by Venus, Abraham Janssens I Jupiter Rebuked by Venus Abraham Janssens I, c. 1612 Cupid Chastised, Bartolomeo Manfredi Cupid Chastised Bartolomeo Manfredi, 1613 Venus and Cupid, Alessandro Turchi Venus and Cupid Alessandro Turchi, c. 1630 Hercules and Hesione, Bartolomeo Salvestrini Hercules and Hesione Bartolomeo Salvestrini, c. 1630 Alpheus and Arethusa, Moses van Uyttenbroeck Alpheus and Arethusa Moses van Uyttenbroeck, 1626 The Wedding of Peleus and Thetis, Peter Paul Rubens The Wedding of Peleus and Thetis Peter Paul Rubens, 1636 Nymphs Bathing, Dirck van der Lisse Nymphs Bathing Dirck van der Lisse, c. 1650 A Witches' Sabbath, Cornelis Saftleven A Witches' Sabbath Cornelis Saftleven, c. 1650 The Sacrifice of Polyxena, Giulio Carpioni The Sacrifice of Polyxena Giulio Carpioni, c. 1650 The Abduction of Europa, David Teniers the Younger The Abduction of Europa David Teniers the Younger, 1654–56 The Abduction of Europa, David Teniers the Younger The Abduction of Europa David Teniers the Younger, 1654–56 The Abduction of the Sabine Women, Luca Giordano The Abduction of the Sabine Women Luca Giordano, c. 1675 Mercury Rescues the Disguised Io after Beheading Argus, Johann Michael Rottmayr Mercury Rescues the Disguised Io after Beheading Argus Johann Michael Rottmayr, c. 1695 Diana and Endymion, Johann Michael Rottmayr Diana and Endymion Johann Michael Rottmayr, c. 1695 Venus and Cupid at the Forge of Vulcan, Johann Michael Rottmayr Venus and Cupid at the Forge of Vulcan Johann Michael Rottmayr, c. 1695 Jove Casts His Thunderbolts at the Rebellious Giants, Johann Michael Rottmayr Jove Casts His Thunderbolts at the Rebellious Giants Johann Michael Rottmayr, c. 1695 Apollo Granting Phaeton Permission to Drive the Chariot of the Sun, Johann Michael Rottmayr Apollo Granting Phaeton Permission to Drive the Chariot of the Sun Johann Michael Rottmayr, c. 1695 Nymphs and Satyrs Drinking, Johann Georg Platzer Nymphs and Satyrs Drinking Johann Georg Platzer, c. 1740 Sketch for a Ceiling Fresco, Giovanni Domenico Ferretti Sketch for a Ceiling Fresco Giovanni Domenico Ferretti, c. 1740 Bacchic Revels, Johann Georg Platzer Bacchic Revels Johann Georg Platzer, c. 1740 Armida Encounters the Sleeping Rinaldo, Giovanni Battista Tiepolo Armida Encounters the Sleeping Rinaldo Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, c. 1742–45 Bathing Nymph, François Boucher Bathing Nymph François Boucher, c. 1745–50 The Toilette of Venus, François Boucher The Toilette of Venus François Boucher, 1751 Lady Sarah Bunbury Sacrificing to the Graces, Sir Joshua Reynolds Lady Sarah Bunbury Sacrificing to the Graces Sir Joshua Reynolds, 1763–65 The Death of Procris, Benjamin West The Death of Procris Benjamin West, 1770, retouched 1803 Paris, Johann Heinrich Wilhelm Tischbein Paris Johann Heinrich Wilhelm Tischbein, c. 1787 Helen, Johann Heinrich Wilhelm Tischbein Helen Johann Heinrich Wilhelm Tischbein, c. 1787 The Birth of Bacchus, British School The Birth of Bacchus British School, c. 1790 Venus Healing Aeneas, Merry-Joseph Blondel Venus Healing Aeneas Merry-Joseph Blondel, c. 1820 Birth of Bacchus, Károly Markó, Sr. Birth of Bacchus Károly Markó, Sr., 1826 (?) Cupid and Psyche, Jean-Baptiste Regnault Cupid and Psyche Jean-Baptiste Regnault, 1828 Dante's Bark, After Eugène Delacroix Dante's Bark After Eugène Delacroix, c. 1840–60 Nymphs Leaving the Bath, Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot Nymphs Leaving the Bath Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot, 1843 Education of Cupid, Narcisse Virgilio Díaz Education of Cupid Narcisse Virgilio Díaz, c. 1859 Bathing Nymphs and Child, Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot Bathing Nymphs and Child Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot, 1855–60 The Death of Orpheus, Henri Leopold Levy The Death of Orpheus Henri Leopold Levy, c. 1870 Wounded Eurydice, Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot Wounded Eurydice Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot, 1868–70 Elaine, Toby Edward Rosenthal Elaine Toby Edward Rosenthal, 1874 Hercules and the Lernaean Hydra, Gustave Moreau Hercules and the Lernaean Hydra Gustave Moreau, 1875–76 In the Sea, Arnold Böcklin In the Sea Arnold Böcklin, 1883 The Sacred Grove, Beloved of the Arts and the Muses, Pierre Puvis de Chavannes The Sacred Grove, Beloved of the Arts and the Muses Pierre Puvis de Chavannes, 1884–89 The Fates Gathering in the Stars, Elihu Vedder The Fates Gathering in the Stars Elihu Vedder, 1887 Apollo and Marsyas, Hans Thoma Apollo and Marsyas Hans Thoma, 1888 Winged Figure, Abbott Handerson Thayer Winged Figure Abbott Handerson Thayer, 1889 Venus in the Grotto, Koloman Moser Venus in the Grotto Koloman Moser, 1914 Perseus's Last Duty, Max Beckmann Perseus's Last Duty Max Beckmann, 1949 Allegory of Venus and Cupid, Imitator of Titian Allegory of Venus and Cupid Imitator of Titian, c. 1600 The Judgment of Paris: he is sitting at left with Venus, Juno and Pallas Athena, a winged victory above. In the upper section the Sun in his chariot preceeded by Castor and Pollux on horseback, at lower right two river gods and a naiad above whom Jupiter, an eagle, Ganymede, Diana and another goddess, Marcantonio Raimondi The Judgment of Paris: he is sitting at left with Venus, Juno and Pallas Athena, a winged victory above. In the upper section the Sun in his chariot preceeded by Castor and Pollux on horseback, at lower right two river gods and a naiad above whom Jupiter, an eagle, Ganymede, Diana and another goddess Marcantonio Raimondi, ca. 1510–20 Hercules chasing Avarice from the Temple of the Muses, Ugo da Carpi Hercules chasing Avarice from the Temple of the Muses Ugo da Carpi, ca. 1520–27 Jupiter and Juno: Study for the "Furti di Giove" Tapestries, Perino del Vaga Jupiter and Juno: Study for the "Furti di Giove" Tapestries Perino del Vaga, ca. 1532–35 Diana and Actaeon, Bartholomeus Spranger Diana and Actaeon Bartholomeus Spranger, ca. 1580–85 The Apollo Belvedere, plate 3 from Three Famous Antique Sculptures, Hendrick Goltzius The Apollo Belvedere, plate 3 from Three Famous Antique Sculptures Hendrick Goltzius, c. 1592, printed c. 1617 Hercules and Telephos, plate two from Three Famous Antique Sculptures, Hendrick Goltzius Hercules and Telephos, plate two from Three Famous Antique Sculptures Hendrick Goltzius, c. 1592, printed c. 1617 The Dragon Devouring the Companions of Cadmus, Hendrick Goltzius The Dragon Devouring the Companions of Cadmus Hendrick Goltzius, 1588 Hercules Killing Cacus, Hendrick Goltzius Hercules Killing Cacus Hendrick Goltzius, 1588 Youth Playing a Pipe for a Satyr, Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione Youth Playing a Pipe for a Satyr Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione, 1645–50 Study for Detail: The Goddess Diana, Giovanni Battista Tiepolo Study for Detail: The Goddess Diana Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, 1750–59 View of the Temple of Jupiter Tonans [Jupiter the Thunderer], from Views of Rome, Giovanni Battista Piranesi View of the Temple of Jupiter Tonans [Jupiter the Thunderer], from Views of Rome Giovanni Battista Piranesi, 1750/59 Minerva Crowning the Genius of Fine Arts, Unknown artist Minerva Crowning the Genius of Fine Arts Unknown artist, early 1780s? Bust of Patroclus, William Henry Fox Talbot Bust of Patroclus William Henry Fox Talbot, August 9, 1843 Le Geant, Champ de Mars, Nadar (Gaspard Félix Tournachon) Le Geant, Champ de Mars Nadar (Gaspard Félix Tournachon), October 18, 1863, probably printed 1880/89 Bacchus, John Singer Sargent Bacchus John Singer Sargent, 1874-1880 Sita, Odilon Redon Sita Odilon Redon, c. 1893 Mercury (after Pigalle), Paul Cézanne Mercury (after Pigalle) Paul Cézanne, 1885/1895 The Nymphs, Émile Bernard The Nymphs Émile Bernard, 1890 Hercules Resting, Paul Cézanne Hercules Resting Paul Cézanne, 1897