The Feast of Acheloüs
1615 Metropolitan Museum of Art
About this artwork
This large-scale oil painting depicts a mythological banquet hosted by the river god Acheloüs, featuring the hero Theseus as a guest. The work reflects the characteristic dramatic lighting and rich color palette associated with the Flemish Baroque tradition.
Did you know?
This work was a collaborative effort, with the landscape and still-life elements often attributed to Jan Brueghel the Elder, while Rubens painted the figures. The scene illustrates an episode from Ovid's Metamorphoses, where Theseus is entertained by the river god Acheloüs, who recounts the origins of the Echinades islands during their meal.
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The Feast of Acheloüs
Peter Paul Rubens, 1615
