On-line gallery
- Reference number
- P02458
- Author
- Rubens, Peter Paul (Flemish)
- Title
- The Persecution of the Harpies
- Chronology
- Ca. 1636
- Technique
- Support
- Measures
- 13,9 cm x 14,5 cm
- School
- Theme
- Shown
- Yes
- Entrance
- DONACION
- Procedence
- Donation by the Duchess widow of Pastrana, 1889
In his Metamorphosis, Ovid tells of
the moment when the Harpies,
monstrous beings that were half
bird and half woman, were persued
and killed by two of the Argonauts
that accompanied Jason.
On this panel, Rubens depicts the
scene that served as a preparatory
sketch for a painting by Erasmus
Quellinus that hung in the Torre de
la Parada.
The subject is one of the most
enigmatic of the whole series.
Before its true meaning was known,
it was interpreted as the
“banishment of the night” or as
“angels driving evil spirits
away.”
Indirectly, this painting displays
Rubens' mastery of classical texts,
which allowed him to include the
most varied subject matter into his
mythological works.
Location on the map
