In Greek and Roman mythology, love, desire and beauty were closely linked and understood to dominate the lives of gods and humans. The ancient texts that dealt with these themes –the Homeric poems, Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Virgil’s Aeneid, among others– were highly esteemed during the Renaissance and Baroque periods, when they were represented as powerful emotions.

The exhibition Mythological Passions. Titian, Veronese, Allori, Rubens, Ribera, Poussin, Van Dyck, Velázquez offers an unsurpassed review of mythological love as depicted by some of the leading figures in the history of European art. For centuries, mythological themes were regarded as a pinnacle of high culture and elite patrons and artists avidly engaged with them.

The exhibition includes 29 paintings, 16 from the Prado’s collection and 13 loans. Especially noteworthy is the fact that six paintings made by Titian for King Philip II between 1553 and 1562, known as the poesie, can be seen together in Spain for the first time since the end of the sixteenth century.

This exhibition is made possible by the special collaboration of the National Gallery, London, the National Galleries of Scotland, Edinburgh, and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston, in addition to other generous lenders. The sole sponsor is the Fundación BBVA.