“Prometheus Bound” by Peter Paul Rubens and Frans Snyder
“Prometheus Bound” by Peter Paul Rubens and Frans Snyder is a personal new favorite painting for me. From the first time I laid eyes on this work of art I was immediately drawn in by the image of this defenseless man, chained up, and the gruesomeness of seeing the an eagle ripping his liver from his side. The tale behind this painting and the process by which the Rubens created this painting are equally fascinating.
Being raised Catholic during the Baroque period, much of Ruben’s paintings reflected his religion. He produced religious paintings such as “Daniel in the Lions’ Den”, ”Raising of the Cross”, and “Descent from the Cross.” He worked in a studio where he had other artist working on paintings with him. He had artists who specialized in painting certain forms such as fish, birds, and clouds among many other forms. In “Prometheus Bound” Frans Snyder is actually credited with painting the great eagle.
“Prometheus Bound” is about the legend of Prometheus, the Greek Titan who gave fire to humankind, which defied Zeus’s order. As punishment for defying Zeus, Prometheus was bound with chains to the side of Mount Caucasas for eternity. It was here that a great eagle would come every day to feast on Prometheus’s liver. Being a Titan, Prometheus’s liver would regenerate every night and the eagle would come back every day and repeat the excruciating punishment.
When I look at “Prometheus Bound” I see dark, mountainous, rock covered, and jagged landscapes. There is also a large tree over head that is covered in shadow. Out in the sky are rolling, dark, and inescapable clouds that set the tone for the ominous painting. In the center of the painting is the figure of Prometheus nude and chained by his arms to the side of a mountain. Perched on top of Prometheus’s forehead with its wings spread wide is the great eagle gorging on Prometheus’s liver with its razor sharp beak while Prometheus’s body writhes in pain. There is also some black and white clothing on the ground beneath Prometheus’s body. At the bottom left of the painting is a wooden torch burning on the ground.
“Prometheus Bound” took seven long years to paint. This behemoth of a painting began in 1611 and was completed in 1618. The original painting measures an incredible ninety-six by eighty-three inches. That’s eight foot by seven foot! “Prometheus Bound”, which is now on display at the Philadelphia Museum of Art in Philadelphia, PA, is oil on canvas.
In my mind “Prometheus Bound” stirs a deep sense of sympathy using chiaroscuro. Prometheus’s well lit body and the dark background, as well as the dark eagle exhibit a masterful use of chiaroscuro. This use of light on Prometheus’s body makes him the center of the painting and draws the viewer in to what the artist is trying to highlight. The use of darkness invokes feelings of pain an ill fate. There is also a pattern of lines running diagonally across the painting. Prometheus’s body, with feet in the air, and the eagles wings, spread wide, and running parallel to each other seems strange to me. It may possibly be depicted this way to express the extreme height of Prometheus on the mountain. The strong brush strokes on the eagle’s wings and the overall smoothness of the painting reflect the artist skill and attention to detail as “Prometheus Bound” was painted rather realistically.
The representational painting teaches me the ideals of the Baroque period were not so much different from our present day ideals. This painting possibly shows the artist inner struggle with his own ideas about creationism. It also evokes a strong sense of sympathy that the artist has for Prometheus which parallels the sympathy that Prometheus had for humankind.
In my opinion Peter Paul Rubens and Frans Snyder co-produced a living masterpiece. This highly representational painting speaks to me of love and respect for our fellow humans. It also represents the high price that is sometimes paid for love and respect. “Prometheus Bound” speaks to me from the past, across time, about love.

Sources: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/daniel-maidman/what-makes-rubens-great_b_1553004.html http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/3795212?uid=3739920&uid=2&uid=4&uid=3739256&sid=21103758439837 http://www.philamuseum.org/collections/permanent/104468.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prometheus_Bound_(Rubens)