Pygmalion
Paolo Veronese·c. 1558
Historical Context
Pygmalion at the Gardner Museum depicts the Ovidian myth of the sculptor who falls in love with his own creation, which Venus then brings to life. The subject had special resonance for artists as a metaphor for the creative power of art itself. The Pygmalion myth—the sculptor who creates his ideal in art only for it to transcend art and become real—had particular meaning for painters who contemplated the relationship between representation and reality.
Technical Analysis
The composition captures the moment of transformation with characteristic Venetian refinement. Veronese's luminous flesh tones and the contrast between the still-stone and living figures create visual drama.
Look Closer
- ◆Notice how Veronese stages this scene of "Pygmalion" with the theatrical grandeur and luminous color that defined Venetian Renaissance painting.
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