Jupiter and Semele
by Gustave Moreau, 1895
Artwork Details
Details
- Year
- 1895
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Size
- 212 cm × 118 cm
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French artist Gustave Moreau painted this Jupiter and Semele in 1895, depicting the moment the god reveals his true divine form to his mortal lover. Semele dies from the overwhelming radiance of Jupiter's glory, shown here as a dazzling figure surrounded by symbolic beings. The composition overflows with ornamental detail and mystical imagery.
Moreau was the leading Symbolist painter in France, creating jewel-like visions of mythology and religion. His ornate, mysterious works influenced the Surrealists. This painting is the centerpiece of the Musée Gustave Moreau in Paris.
