Mythology in painting

Myths and allegories in painting. Identify the figures, discover the stories and examine the details with explanations.

Paintings in this selection

30 artworks. Open a painting to read its story and explore its details.

Sandro Botticelli

To understand a mythological scene, begin with its literary background. Then consider the moment the artist selected and how it was represented. Painting pages connect the subject with the circumstances of the work’s creation and its later history.

Artists

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How to explore the paintings

On an artwork page, choose “Explore the painting”. Zoom in, move around the image and hide the text to see the details. Turn on the audio guide to hear the story, or use autoplay to move between passages.

Zoom quality depends on the available reproduction. Each artwork page lists its collection, story sources and image rights. Access is free and no account is required.

Mythology in painting

Paintings in this selection

The Birth of Venus

Terracotta neck-amphora (jar) with lid and knob (27.16)

The Kiss (Lovers)

Terracotta column-krater (bowl for mixing wine and water)

The Judgment of Paris

Saturn

Venus and Cupid

A Hunting Scene

Allegory of the Planets and Continents

Venus and Adonis

Mars and Venus United by Love

The Feast of the Gods

The Toilette of Venus

Oedipus and the Sphinx

Blind Orion Searching for the Rising Sun

The Race Track (Death on a Pale Horse)

The Voyage of Life: Youth

Cupid and Psyche

Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going?

The Fall of Phaeton

Laocoön

Venus with a Mirror

The Swan Princess

The Awakening of the Graces