Follower of Giuseppe Bartolomeo Chiari
Lot 156

Follower of Giuseppe Bartolomeo Chiari

Polyphemus discovering Galatea and Acis

Closed26 October 2011

Price Realised

GBP 3,250

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Follower of Giuseppe Bartolomeo Chiari
Polyphemus discovering Galatea and Acis
oil on canvas
36 x 28½ in. (91.5 x 72.4 cm.)

Specialist note

Galatea, a Nereid of Sicilian origin, loved the handsome youth Acis and was herself loved by a monstrous, one-eyed giant, Polyphemus, who had descended from Cyclops. The giant sat on a promontory overlooking the sea and played a love song to the Nereid on his pipes. Later, wandering disconsolately among the rocks, he discovered her in Acis's arms (Metamorphoses 13: 750-897). Polyphemus in a rage flings a great boulder that kills Acis.