The Fall of Phaeton, Essay Example

“The Fall of Phaeton” by Peter Paul Rubens is an example of the Baroque art style in both its depiction of an emotionally-charged event and its use of dramatic style and energy.  The painting is based on Greek mythology and shows Zeus killing his Phaeton, son of the Greek God Helios, with a lightening bolt to save the Universe from destruction.  The scene is one of controlled destruction, illustrating the power that Zeus possess to assert his domination in the midst of violence and terror.  The painting uses elements of the Baroque style in its “powerful movement and complex poses” (National Gallery of Art, 2011), such as the shaft of light that destroys Phaeton.  As well, the painting employs a great deal of exaggeration in its depiction of motion, which gives the scene a sense of immediacy and grandeur.

Although there is a great deal going on in the scene, the viewer doesn’t get lost–evidencing the painting’s use of the Baroque element of clarity and detail.  This is due, in part, to the spatial arrangement of the figures in which they “form a diagonal oval in the centre of the painting, separating dark and light sides of the canvas.  Each figure is caught mid-movement, their bodies arranged to help the viewer’s eye travel continually around that oval” (Dan, 2011).   The painting does not depict reality, rather it captures the sensationalistic aspects of human emotion, despite the fact that the figures themselves are representations of Greek gods and other mythical characters.  This attention to emotion is another indicator of the Baroque style, and one that was used to draw the viewer’s attention and enable them to cathartically experience the emotions depicted on the canvas.  “The Fall of Phaeton” demonstrates the dangers of exceeding one’s abilities and the importance of taking responsibility for one’s actions, an attitude that the National Gallery suggests was closely married to Rubens own personal philosophy (2011).

References

Dan. (2011). Peter paul rubens: Baroque painter of the north. Retrieved from http://emptyeasel.com/2007/05/01/peter-paul-rubens-baroque-painter-of-the-north/

National Gallery of Art. (2011). The collection: The fall of Phaeton. Retrieved from http://www.nga.gov/collection/gallery/gg45/gg45-71349.html

Vigee Le Brun, E.L. (n.d.). Advice on the painting of portraits. Retrieved from http://www.batguano.com/vigeeadvice.html