The Wrath of the Gods - Christopher Atkins

Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) proudly described his monumental painting Prometheus Bound as first among the flower of my stock. This singular work demonstrates how Rubens engaged with and responded to his predecessors Michelangelo and Titian with whom he shared an interest in depictions of physical torment. The Wrath of the Gods offers an in-depth case study of the Flemish artist's creative process and aesthetic while also demonstrating why this particular painting has appealed to viewers over time. Many scholars have elaborated on Rubens's affinity for Titian but his connection to Michelangelo has received far less attention. This study presents a new interpretation of Prometheus Bound showing how Rubens created parallels between the pagan hero Prometheus and Michelangelo's Risen Christ from the Sistine Chapel's Last Judgment. Christopher D. M. Atkins expands our understanding of artistic transmission by elucidating how Rubens synthesized the works he saw in Italy Spain and his native Antwerp and how Prometheus Bound in turn influenced Dutch Flemish and Italian artists. By emulating Rubens's composition these artists circulated it throughout Europe broadening its influence from his day to ours.

TITLE: The Wrath of the Gods

AUTHOR: Christopher Atkins

SKU: 9780300215243

PUBLISHER: Yale University Press

DATE PUBLISHED: 01/09/2015

PLACE PUBLISHED: United States

PAGES: 112

BINDING: Hardback

LANGUAGE: English

DIMENSIONS: 241 mm x 279 mm

WEIGHT: 993 gr