
Jupiter et les Corybantes, c. 1876
Ceiling mural Opera National, Paris
In Greek and Roman mythology, the god Saturn was warned that one of his offspring would overthrow him, so he ate his children at birth. To protect their son, his wife Ops took the infant Jupiter to the island of Crete to be raised by the Corybantes, who used the rhythm of their dancing and the clashing of their cymbals to disguise the baby’s cries so he would not be discovered by Saturn.
Paul-Jacques-Aimé Baudry (7 November 1828–17 January 1886) was a French painter…