Metamorphoses

This classic from antiquity has been read and reinterpreted by artists for centuries. In the major spring exhibition Metamorphoses, you dive into Ovid’s two-thousand-year-old poem about vengeful gods, ingenious heroes and high-minded mortals.

More than 80 masterpieces

Metamorphoses brings together over 80 masterpieces from museums and collections around the world. From Bernini, Titian, Correggio, and Caravaggio to Rodin, Brancusi, Magritte, and Bourgeois. The exhibition features paintings, sculptures, goldsmith’s work, and ceramics, alongside contemporary photography and video art. It is a special collaboration with the Galleria Borghese in Rome.

Historic and contemporary

Historic masterpieces and contemporary works come together in this exhibition. Alongside iconic works such as Bernini's Sleeping Hermaphroditus and Caravaggio's Narcissus, you will also encounter modern interpretations of Ovid’s stories. These include the boundary-pushing work of Ulay and a video installation by Juul Kraijer, inspired by the myth of Medusa.

Bible for artists

'All things change, but nothing dies.' This idea lies at the heart of Ovid’s Metamorphoses, written around 8 AD. Humans, animals, and gods constantly change shape: from Arachne, the weaver turned into a spider, to Jupiter, who disguises himself as a bull, a swan or a shower of gold to deceive his jealous wife and his lovers. In 1604, the Dutch painter and writer Karel van Mander famously called the Metamorphoses a 'Bible for artists'. The richness and variety of works inspired by Ovid shows just how true that still is today.

Audio tour with Stephen Fry

Choose the audio tour! Discover the stories of Metamorphoses with Stephen Fry at your side.

Concert series

The Metamorphoses in Music concert series showcases how composers and musicians have explored the idea of transformation across the centuries. View the programme here.

Accessibility

The exhibition is wheelchair accessible.

Thanks to

The exhibition Metamorphoses is made possible by The Bennink Foundation/Rijksmuseum Fonds, Blockbusterfonds, Rijksmuseum International Circle, Rijksmuseum Patrons and the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science.