Gods and Heroes: Classical Mythology in European Prints

December 2, 2016–April 2, 2017
European Art Galleries, Level 2, Gallery S202

The compelling stories developed by the Greeks and Romans to explain the world around them have fascinated subsequent generations of artists. This exhibition will explore how European artists interpreted and used these ancient narratives, and the characters that populate them, to experiment with style and composition, to develop propagandistic images that promoted their patrons, and more. The prints on display cover the Renaissance through the early twentieth century and are by artists from Germany, Holland, France, Italy, and England.


Image:
  • Jean-Honoré Fragonard, Nymph Supported by Two Satyrs, from the series Bacchanals, 1763. Etching. Plate and sheet: 5 7/16 × 8 1/8 in. (13.81 × 20.64 cm). Gift of the DASS Fund M2010.65.1. Photo by John R. Glembin.