The Muses

This piece, entitled "The Muses," was painted in 1578 by Jacopo Tintoretto. The Muses were the nine daughters of Zeus, and were seen as the emblem of all the liberal arts, including song, dance and poetry. All nine of the Muses are featured in this painting floating in the sky, with Calliope, the chief muse, in the center of the painting. Apollo, the god of archery, music and dance, was set to be their leader, and is represented in the middle of the painting as the sun. Tintoretto reflected the freedom of the Muses through their nudity. This piece is currently located at Kensington Palace in London, England.