Die Einführung des Ganymed in den Olymp (van Loo)

Deutsch: Die Einführung des Ganymed in den Olymp von Charles-Amédée-Philippe van Loo. Deckengemälde, Öl auf Leinwand, 1768, Marmorsaal, Neues Palais, Potsdam. Mit 240 m² Fläche ist dieses das größte Leinwanddeckengemälde nördlich der Alpen.

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English: The Induction of Ganymede in Olympus by Charles-Amédée-Philippe van Loo. Ceiling painting, oil on canvas, 1768, Marble Hall, New Palace, Potsdam. At 240 square meters (= 2,583 square feet), this is the largest canvas ceiling painting north of the Alps.

Van Loo's ceiling painting in the New Palace's Marble Hall.

Deckengemälde / Ceiling painting

Garbed in vivid red, Zeus presides at the head of the table of twelve gods in Olympus: Pallas Athena, Artemis, Demeter, Hera, Hephaestus, Apollo, Hermes, Iris, Ares, Poseidon, Aphrodite, and Cupid.

Ausschnitte / Details

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  In the lower center are two symbols of Zeus' power, a thunderbolt in the talons of a Golden Eagle, the form he took when abducting Ganymede. Above them, the winged angel Pheme bears the trumpet of fame and a hero's wreath, while another angel bears a shield-shaped cartouche.
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  A drape covers the cartouche which, in the artist's preliminary sketch, displayed a crown and the initials FR (Fridericus Rex). The intentional concealing of Frederick's name in the final work was interpreted by contemporaries as indicative of his modesty.
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  Newly inducted into Olympus, Ganymede kneels at the side of Zeus. Behind him crouches Zeus' daughter Hebe, whom he is now supplanting as cupbearer to the gods.
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  Facing Zeus but at a remove sits his wife Hera, angered at the replacement of their daughter Hebe by Zeus' favorite, the new divine hero.
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  Above the table of the gods, the Muses make music. From left to right (with their attributes): Euterpe: lyric poetry (flute), Erato: lyric poetry (stringed instrument), Terpsichore: dance (lyra, dance step), Clio: history (stylus), Calliope: epic poetry (book), Melpomene: tragedy (wreath of grape leaves), Polyhymnia: song (in a pensive pose), Urania: astronomy (globe), Thalia: comedy (mask).
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  To the left of the table of the gods, Flora prepares garlands.
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  To the right of the table of the gods, Dionysus pours wine.
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  A putto pelts the assembled company below with roses.
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  Cupid spans his bow.

Ölskizze / Oil sketch

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  Hebe and Hephaestus do not appear in this preliminary version, and the shield borne by angels displays a crown and the initials FR (Fridericus Rex).