Mythical
Myth and Legend in Art: Gods, Monsters and Marvels
Winged gods, sea monsters, angels and chimeras — for centuries painters gave shape to the impossible. This gallery zooms into the mythical figures woven through the collection, the creatures that let artists paint power, fear, and the divine. Click any detail to see the full story.
24 details · cropped from original museum images
Love (winged male figure, Cupid)
Pierre Paul Prud'hon (French, 1758–1823) · Innocence Prefers Love to Riches
Art Institute of Chicago
Angel Gabriel
William Blake · The Angel Appearing to Zacharias
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
central nymph holding a wine glass
Johann Georg Platzer (Austrian, 1704–1761) · Nymphs and Satyrs Drinking
Art Institute of Chicago
descending angel
After Jacobo Bassano (Italian, c. 1510-1592) · Annunciation to the Shepherds
Art Institute of Chicago
Phaeton the charioteer
Benjamin Green · Phaeton
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Apollo playing the lyre
After Raffaello Sanzio, called Raphael · Parnassus
Art Institute of Chicago
Archangel Gabriel
Jean Hey (Master of Moulins; Netherlandish, c. 1480-c.1504) · The Annunciation
Art Institute of Chicago
God as the Creator
Hans Holbein the Younger · Creation of Eve, from "The Dance of Death"
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Faun attacking a snake
School of Andrea Mantegna · Faun Attacking a Snake
Art Institute of Chicago
Idol Hina
Paul Gauguin (French, 1848–1903) · Mahana no atua (Day of the God)
Art Institute of Chicago
Lernaean Hydra
Gustave Moreau (French, 1826-1898) · Hercules and the Lernaean Hydra
Art Institute of Chicago
John the Baptist as Angel of the Desert
Russian Painter · Panel from a Saints' Calendar (painted on both sides)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Archangel Michael
Pietro da Cortona · The Holy Trinity with Saint Michael Conquering the Dragon
Art Institute of Chicago
Lying Cupid
Bartolomeo Manfredi (Italian, 1582–1622) · Cupid Chastised
Art Institute of Chicago
Winged figure
Abbott Handerson Thayer (American, 1849–1921) · Winged Figure
Art Institute of Chicago
Young Bacchus
Piat Joseph Sauvage · The Triumph of Bacchus
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Archangel Gabriel
South Netherlandish Painter · The Annunciation
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Figure of Father Time
Anonymous, French, 19th century · Design for Clock
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Apollo the sun god
Gerard de Lairesse · Apollo and Aurora
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
descended angel
Francesco Maffei · Hagar and the Angel
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Fate in the center (Lachesis)
Elihu Vedder (American, 1836–1923) · The Fates Gathering in the Stars
Art Institute of Chicago
Archangel Gabriel
Philippe de Champaigne · The Annunciation
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Goddess Juno
after Pietro da Cortona · Juno, Zeus and Aeolus
Art Institute of Chicago
Europa riding the bull
David Teniers the Younger (Flemish, 1610–1690) · The Abduction of Europa
Art Institute of Chicago