Prometheus Being Chained by Vulcan, Dirck van Baburen, 1623

Prometheus Being Chained by Vulcan, Dirck van Baburen, 1623

oil on canvas, h 201cm × w 182cm Catalogue entry

Prometheus stole fire from the gods and gave it to mankind. As punishment, Vulcan chained him to a rock, where an eagle pecked out his liver causing him excruciating pain. Here we see Prometheus being chained, his face contorted with fear, while Mercury laughs at him. Van Baburen borrowed the dramatic illumination and the figure’s sunburned hands and faces from his great model Caravaggio.

On display in room 2.1

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Catalogue entry