On-line gallery
- Reference number
- P01678
- Author
- Rubens, Peter Paul (Flemish)
- Title
- Saturn devouring his son
- Chronology
- 1636-1638
- Technique
- Support
- Measures
- 180 cm x 87 cm
- School
- Theme
- Shown
- Yes
- Entrance
- COLECCIONREAL
- Procedence
- Royal Collection
Saturn, the son of Heaven and
Earth, was one of the Titans that
ruled the Earth along with his
wife, Rea. He is also identified
with Chronos, the god of Time. He
is depicted with a scythe, which
symbolizes how time harvests lives.
The three stars in the background
allude to the planet of the same
name.
According to the story in Ovid's
Metamorphosis that inspired Rubens,
Saturn killed all his sons in order
to keep them from overthrowing him.
He was later overthrown and
banished by Zeus, his only
surviving son.
Here, Rubens offers one of the most
violent and heartrending scenes of
all his oeuvre. He manages to
suggest the forms with broad
brushstrokes, which are most
adequate for transmitting the
violence of this subject.
This work was painted for the Torre
de la Parada.
Location on the map
