Jupiter and Semele
1750
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1750
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Jupiter and Semele is a 1750 ink by French 18th Century, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a muscular man with a crown and a thunderbolt, kneeling beside a seated woman who holds a small object. The man’s face is rough and bearded, while the woman looks down, her body wrapped in flowing cloth. In the background, a cloudy sky and a chariot appear faintly. The artist used quick, sketchy lines to show movement and emotion, with dark washes for shadows. The scene feels dramatic, like a moment of tension between the two figures. Next, look up Baroque to see how this style used drama and movement in art.
