Since I already acknowledged my love of Goya and especially his black paintings, here is another piece he inspired… or I ripped off. But as always, not a copy of his work….just playing with his idea.
Or the Greeks idea in this case.
Saturn Devouring His Son. 12×18 Gouache on 140 lb wc paper.
Here is some background on the story behind the painting. (Both Goya’s andmine)
The story of “Saturn Devouring His Son” originates from Greek mythology and centers around the titan Cronus (Saturn in Roman mythology) and his dark and gruesome act. Here’s the tale:
Background: Cronus, one of the Titans, was the son of Uranus (the sky) and Gaia (the earth). Uranus feared the power of his children and kept them imprisoned within Gaia’s womb. Gaia, angered by Uranus’s actions, conspired with her son Cronus to overthrow Uranus. Cronus castrated his father Uranus, leading to his downfall and allowing Cronus to become the ruler of the cosmos.
The Prophecy: Ruling over the cosmos, Cronus learned of a prophecy that foretold his eventual overthrow by one of his own children. Fearing this prophecy, Cronus took drastic measures to prevent it from coming true.
The Act: To thwart the prophecy and maintain his power, Cronus began to devour each of his children as they were born. One by one, his offspring were consumed, their fate sealed by Cronus’s insatiable fear of losing his throne.
Saturn Devouring His Son: The most famous depiction of this horrifying act comes from the painting “Saturn Devouring His Son” by the Spanish artist Francisco Goya. In the painting, Cronus (Saturn) is depicted as a monstrous figure, his mouth agape as he greedily consumes one of his children. The scene is chilling and evokes a sense of horror at the depths of Cronus’s depravity.
Consequences: Despite Cronus’s efforts to prevent the prophecy from being fulfilled, his actions ultimately led to his downfall. One of his children, Zeus (Jupiter in Roman mythology), was hidden away by his mother Rhea and later grew to adulthood. Zeus eventually led a rebellion against Cronus, overthrowing him and the Titans to become the ruler of the cosmos.
Symbolism: The story of Saturn devouring his son has been interpreted in various ways throughout history. It’s often seen as a symbol of the destructive nature of fear and power, as well as the cyclical nature of time and the inevitability of fate.
Overall, the tale of Saturn devouring his son serves as a cautionary reminder of the consequences of greed, fear, and the desire to maintain power at any cost.
For anyone unclear about this art or its intent. DO NOT HURT KIDS. This includes eating them. Eating children is bad. No eat children, even if they are yours.
