XIX Century, Triumph Of Galatea

XIX century

Triumph of Galatea

Watercolor on paper, cm 48 x 70

With frame cm 74 x 95

Galatea, daughter of Nereus and Doryde, is one of the 50 nymphs of the sea, the Nereids. According to Greek mythology, Polyphemus fell in love with her without being reciprocated. Because of anger and jealousy killed with a stone Aci, the lover of Galatea.

In the Renaissance, the figure and legend of Galatea had a great echo and spread among the artists of the time giving life to a very particular and sought-after iconography: the triumph of the nymph. Galatea is usually depicted on a shell towed by dolphins, surrounded by a large number of mythological figures and amorini with arrows.

Among the most famous examples of this iconography we can mention the fresco by Raphael at the villa Farnesina in Rome. It is a fascinating myth, always captivating, in fact repeated several times over the centuries.

This watercolor takes up the classic iconography with the nymph, fixed and ethereal look, triumphing over a shell. The left arm raised forward contributes to the idea of movement of the nymph and all its followers. The light, soft and delicate color enhances the sense of classicism and timeless beauty of the nymph and this iconography.