Art Analysis Essay

This engraving by Jean Mathieu was made during the renaissance in Paris in 1619. During the Renaissance, an explosion of appreciation for Roman and Greek mythology arose, and as a result of that, it was made specifically for the purpose of illustrating a copy of Ovid’s Metamorphoses, so it is depicted very close to the real story. Your eyes are first drawn to the front of the image where Philemon is transforming into a tree. After seeing central image, you eyes move to where Baucis is changing into a tree next to her husband. Inside the temple one can see the feet of a sculpture of, assumedly, Jupiter, as their wish was to guard a temple of Jupiter. The central, eye drawing part of the image emphasizes the climax of the story: their transformation into trees. However, as one continues to look around the image, one notices the background, which includes the gods disguised as beggars, Philemon serving them, and Baucis chasing a goose. The background behaves similarly to the lead up of the story; it provides context and background. The close attention to detail in the background allows the viewer to differentiate the gods disguised as beggars from Philemon. Mercury can be identified by the small wings on either side of his hat; the wings are always an identification of Mercury. Philemon can be identified because he is serving the food. The chasing of the goose, which Baucis is doing, is a very important factor of the mindset of Baucis and Philemon. They were the only people in the town willing to help the beggars. Wanting to see how far they would go, the gods asked Baucis and Philemon to serve their only goose to them. They willingly comply, showing their true kind-heartedness. However, one of the biggest differences, though not major, is a subtle change in the position of the trees. In the story as they are changing into trees, they reach out for each other which causes their branches to become inter twined and show them embracing for all eternity. I believe that the point of the story was to show the love they had for one another, where this engraving fails to do so.

Word Count: 367