Prometheus Bound

Resource added
In "Prometheus Bound," the setting is fittingly barren, with towering mountains covered in snow and a bleak sky. Prometheus blends in with the rocks, creating an unexpected moment for the viewer and emphasizing his hopeless situation. A vulture can be seen in the lower portion of the painting, soaring towards Prometheus, with its appearance timed to coincide with the rising of Jupiter in the sky.
Prometheus Bound - Thomas Cole 1847 - Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco

Full description

Prometheus Bound is an 1847 oil painting by American artist Thomas Cole. It is one of Cole's largest paintings, draws from the ancient Greek tragedy Prometheus Bound by Aeschylus. Cole sent it to London for an 1847 exhibit and competition to decorate the Houses of Parliament, and the painting was still in London when he died. It thus received little exhibition in the United States in the 1840s, making its reception (and its theme) difficult to judge.

Comments

Log in to view and add comments.

Annotations

No one has annotated a text with this resource yet.

Download image “Prometheus Bound ”
  • type
    Image
  • created on
  • file format
    jpg
  • file size
    3 MB
  • creator
    Thomas Cole (1801-1848)
  • rights holder
    M. H. de Young Memorial Museum
  • rights territory
    United States of America