Peter Paul Rubens' "Prometheus Bound"
The piece Prometheus Bound is based upon the mythological story of the Titan Prometheus who stole fire from the gods to give to mankind.(web 3) This work, which was completed in 1612, has a very interesting and diverse history. Flemish baroque painter Peter Paul Rubens was born June 28, 1577. By the age of 21 Rubens had become a master painter. At 21, Rubens traveled to Italy to continue his education. It was in Venice where he saw the radiant colors and majestic forms of Titian that influenced the style we see in his Prometheus work. (web1) Prometheus Bound was painted between 1611 and 1612. The more I look at this painting the more I like it but the stranger it becomes. The painting is of an almost naked man chained to a rock and fighting an eagle that is pecking out his liver. This piece symbolizes Baroque art at its purest. Most of the qualities associated with the Baroque are present in this painting. The painting is very dramatic in its portrayal of this struggle between Prometheus and the eagle. When I look at the eagle's face I think it is grinning as if it were enjoying ripping out the liver of Prometheus.
Finally, in a hint of irony, Prometheus means forethought. When looking at Prometheus Bound you can tell that there are different techniques used to paint the characters. They don't make him look like a victim; there is still hope that he can be free. Even the story on which this is based describes huge heavy chains. You can feel the tension between these two characters when you look at their eyes and how they are fixed upon on another. To think that all art has such history behind it is amazing. 2Prometheus seems to be waiting for the right moment to strike. Many believe that they are too light to hold down such a vigorous character. Rubens later added another 18 inches to the left side of the painting by sewing together the canvas. When you look at the detail and texture of Snyder's painting, especially in the bird's feathers, compared to Rubens' style it becomes obvious who painted what. If Prometheus knew the consequences of his gift to man, why did he do it? Prometheus Bound is the sacrifice of one self for the love of mankind. The original painting's left border ended at Prometheus' knee. The grandeur of the Baroque is apparent in the size of the completed painting. The reason for the addition to the painting that I agree with is that Rubens was coming out of the mannerist style he saw in Italy where things were exaggerated and compressed, into a new style of more open-form expression.
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