The Banquet of the Gods. The Wedding of Peleus and Thetis
1611
From the collection of Statens Museum for Kunst
1611
From the collection of Statens Museum for Kunst
This painting shows a wild, crowded scene of gods and humans mixing together. At the center, a man and woman sit on a throne-like chair, surrounded by people dancing, playing instruments, and carrying food. Some figures float in the air, while others hold wine cups or musical instruments. The background has dark clouds and trees, with a few buildings peeking through. Notice how the artist used deep shadows and bright highlights to make the figures pop off the background. The mix of human and divine characters suggests a big celebration—maybe a wedding. Look up chiaroscuro next to see how this lighting trick works in other paintings.
