Prometheus

In Prometheus Bound, the famous tragedy attributed to Aeschylus, to assist the Titan, who complains of divine injustice and the severity of his punishment, the Oceanines rush from the depths of the sea. Paul Jourdy, in this painting, also introduces the figure of Hermes, another protagonist of the story. Zeus is instead represented, by synecdoche, by the lightning bolt. Jourdy was a pupil of Lethière and Ingres. He competed several times in the “Prix de Rome”, finishing first in 1834. He frequently participated in the Paris Salon, obtaining two medals. In 1842 he presented this chained Prometheus, which clearly reflects Ingres’ teaching. Montauban, Musée Ingres Bourdelle.