The Origin of the Milky Way (Tintoretto)
 | |
| Artist | Tintoretto |
|---|---|
| Year | ca. 1575–1580 |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 148 cm × 165 cm (58 in × 65 in) |
| Location | National Gallery, London |
The Origin of the Milky Way is a painting by the Italian late Renaissance master Jacopo Tintoretto, in the National Gallery, London, formerly in the Orleans Collection. It is an oil painting on canvas, and dates from ca.1575–1580.
According to myth, the infant Heracles was brought to Hera by his half-sister Athena, who later played an important role as a goddess of protection. Hera nursed Heracles out of pity, but he suckled so strongly that he caused Hera pain, and she pushed him away. Her milk sprayed across the heavens and there formed the Milky Way. With divine milk, Heracles acquired supernatural powers.
External links
- High definition image on Google art
- Tintoretto's The Origin of the Milky Way, Smarthistory, video (5:19)
- Gallery insight: Karly Allen, National Gallery (London), audio (5:09)
See also
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 10/20/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.