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The Fall of Phaeton
Peter Paul Rubens·1605
Historical Context
Rubens painted The Fall of Phaeton around 1604-05 during his years in Italy, depicting the mythological youth who lost control of his father the Sun God's chariot and was struck down by Jupiter's thunderbolt. The dramatic subject from Ovid's Metamorphoses allowed the young Rubens to demonstrate his mastery of dynamic movement and aerial composition. The painting shows his study of Italian masters, particularly Michelangelo's powerful figure types.
Technical Analysis
The composition creates a dramatic cascade of falling horses and figures tumbling through a stormy sky. Rubens' powerful modeling of the horses and Phaeton in extreme foreshortening demonstrates his early mastery of complex aerial compositions.
Look Closer
- ◆Phaeton's chariot breaks apart in mid-air as Jupiter's thunderbolt strikes, sending horses plunging in four different directions
- ◆The Horae (goddesses of the seasons) tumble alongside Phaeton, their fall disrupting the cosmic order they maintain
- ◆This earlier version of the Fall of Phaeton shows Rubens's initial conception before the NGA version was reworked
- ◆The vertiginous viewpoint places the viewer below the action, looking up into a sky filled with falling bodies and panicked horses
Condition & Conservation
This version of the Fall of Phaeton, distinct from the NGA painting, has been conserved over the centuries. Comparison with the later, reworked version provides insight into Rubens's evolving approach to the composition. The canvas has been relined and cleaned.
