In the myth of Galatea, a sea spirit and a shepherd named Acis fall in love, but a jealous cyclops named Polyphemus kills Acis when he finds them together.
In 1512, the Italian artist Raphael painted “The Triumph of Galatea,” a fresco depicting Galatea’s glorification.
Inspired by Raphael’s composition, palette, and rendering, I studied, copied, and reimagined “The Triumph of Galatea.”
The result is a gathering of ambiguous figures at play and in isolation.
Triangulation. Twelve inches square. Acrylic on canvas.
Raphael’s rendering is glorious. Rather than comparing these two paintings, look at each as it’s own object. What do you see? What is really there? What delights you? What repels?
The Triumph of Galatea. Raphael. 1512. Fresco. Villa Farnesina, Rome.