Mythology
The figures of Greco-Roman mythology — Apollo, Latona, Flora, Perseus… — as staged by the painters and sculptors of the French châteaux.
Diana
diana Text extract from chapter 'Actæon' of book III of Ovid's Metamorphoses and used by painter Francesco Primaticcio to realise the portrait of Diana of Poitiers exposed in the Castle of Chenonceau
Adonis at the Chateau de Cheverny
adonis Text extract from chapter “Adonis” of book X of Ovid's Metamorphoses and used by painter Jean MONIER to realise the canvas representing “The Death of Adonis” exposed in the second storey of the Château de Cheverny
Perseus at the Chateau de Cheverny
perseus Text extract from book IV of Ovid's Metamorphoses and that has inspired to painter Jean MONIER one of the pieces representing Perseus and Andromeda on the celling of the King's bedroom of the second storey of the Château de Cheverny
Latona in the gardens of the Palace of Versailles
latona Text from Book 6 of The Metamorphoses written by Ovid that inspired the Latona fountain in the Gardens of the Palace of Versailles
Phaethon and the Apollo Fountain in the gardens of the Palace of Versailles
phaethon Text extracted from chapter “Phaethon” of book II of Ovid's Metamorphoses, at the origin of figure of Apollo, god of the Sun, as represented in the group of “The Chariot of the Sun”, as carried out by Jean-Baptiste TUBY between 1668 and 1671 in the center of the Apollo Pond in the gardens of the Palace of Versailles and occasion to approach the meaning that could take that star to Louis XIV
Apotheosis of Hercules
hercules presentation of the text published in the Mercure de France for the inauguration of the ceiling of the Salon d'Hercule (Hercules Room) of the Palace of Versailles, « The Apotheosis of Hercules » by King Louis XV on 1736 september, 26th probably written by painter François Lemoyne.
Arachne at the Grand Trianon in the Park of the Palace of Versailles
arachne Text from Book 6 of the Metamorphoses written by Ovid and used by René-Antoine HOUASSE to represent canvas “Minerva and Arachne” that can be found in the Salon des Seigneurs in the Grand Trianon in Versailles
Flora at the Grand Trianon in the Park of the Palace of Versailles
flora Text extract from chapter 5 of Book XI of « The Festivals » written from latin writer Ovid and describing the beginning of the month of may from which the painter Jean JOUVENET inspired for the making of his work « Flora and Zephyrus » (french: “Flore et Zéphyr”), painting that has been commisionned by King Louis XIV and can be seen in the Salon Frais of the Grand Trianon in Versailles
Iris and Morpheus at the Grand Trianon in the Park of the Palace of Versailles
iris Presentation of the text and excerpt from Book XI of “Metamorphoses” written by the Latin writer Ovid with regard to the work he inspired to the painter René-Antoine HOUASSE the painting “Morpheus awakening as Iris draws near” (also called “Iris and Morpheus”) from the former Salon du Sommeil, now the Salon de Famille du Grand Trianon.
Tiresias at the Grand Trianon in the Park of the Palace of Versailles
tiresias Text extract from chapter “Tiresias” of Book III of the « Metamorphosis » of Ovid from which has inspired the painter René-Antoine HOUASSE for the making of his painting “Minerva and Tiresias”
