The Birth of the Milky Way by Pierre Paul Rubens

A spectacular celestial allegory inspired by Greco-Roman mythology, this masterpiece depicts the mythical creation of the Milky Way galaxy. The master Pierre Paul Rubens deploys his full poetic enchantment in “La Naissance de la Voie lactée” to transform an ancient tale into an aesthetic metaphor. The work commands attention through its aerial grace, the contrast of nocturnal skies, and the radiance of the queen of the gods.:::::In the center of the night sky, the goddess Juno reposes upon her golden chariot, her nude body bathed in blinding moonlight. She nurses the infant Hercules who presses against her breast, causing a jet of divine milk to spurt and transform into stars. The majestic chariot is pulled to the right by two royal peacocks with dark, shimmering plumage. On the left in shadow, Jupiter contemplates the scene seated near his sacred eagle holding flaming lightning bolts in its talons. The background consists of a deep blue sky dotted with a multitude of small luminous points. Divine light radiates from the goddess’s face to illuminate the surrounding misty clouds.:::::The virtuosity of Pierre Paul Rubens lies in the fluidity of his brushwork and the magical luminosity of stellar trails. His peerless command of oil painting infuses poetic dynamism as well as striking realism into this cosmic vision.