Peter Paul Rubens, Flemish (active Italy, Antwerp, and England)
Oil on canvas 95 1/2 x 82 1/2 inches (242.6 x 209.5 cm)
Purchased with the W. P. Wilstach Fund, 1950 [ More Details ]
About This Painting This large painting shows the punishment of
Prometheus, a story from ancient Greek mythology. Prometheus, a
Titan (giant), created humans from clay, carefully modeling them
after the gods. Unhappy with seeing the humans suffer from cold
and darkness, Prometheus asked Zeus, king of the gods, to give
them fire. Zeus refused, fearing that people would become too
powerful and try to overthrow the gods. In spite of Zeus’s
decision, Prometheus took a glowing ember from Mount Olympus and
carried it down to earth so that humans could keep warm, see at
night, cook their food, and work with metals. Furious, Zeus
chained Prometheus to a rocky crag on Mount Caucasus (KAW-
kawsus), where an eagle tore out his liver every day. Because
Prometheus was immortal, his liver grew back every night, only
to be devoured again by the p