Artwork
Feast of the Gods (The Marriage of Peleus and Thetis)
Feast of the Gods (The Marriage of Peleus and Thetis) is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Hans Rottenhammer. It dates from 1600 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.
About this work
Overview
Executed in the elaborate mannerist idiom, the work gathers a multitude of nude deities, attendants and winged infants in a densely populated banquet scene.
Hans Rottenhammer’s small copper panel, created in 1600, portrays the mythic marriage of the mortal Peleus and the sea‑nymph Thetis. Executed in the elaborate mannerist idiom, the work gathers a multitude of nude deities, attendants and winged infants in a densely populated banquet scene. The composition reflects the early‑17th‑century fascination with classical narratives rendered in a highly finished, miniature format.
Subject & Meaning
The painting visualizes the legendary wedding that, according to Greek myth, secured the future Trojan War. Rottenhammer assembles gods, mortals and mythic creatures around the central bridal couple, emphasizing the union of human and divine realms. The abundance of fruit, wine and exotic objects underscores the celebratory nature of the rite while hinting at the underlying tensions that would later unfold in mythic history.
Technique & Style
Rendered on copper, the panel allows for fine, luminous detailing characteristic of Rottenhammer’s miniature practice. Thick, impasto brushwork gives the figures a sculptural presence against a darker, storm‑clouded sky. The palette combines bright reds, blues and golds with muted tones, creating a vibrant yet slightly muddied effect typical of late‑Mannerist aesthetics, where elegance and complexity intertwine.
History & Provenance
The work entered the collection of the State Hermitage Museum, where it remains on display. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s broader 19th‑century interest in Northern European Baroque and Mannerist paintings, and it stands as a rare example of Rottenhammer’s copper panel oeuvre, a medium less commonly employed by the German painter.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Johann Rottenhammer, or Hans Rottenhammer (1564 – 14 August 1625), was a German painter. He specialized in highly finished paintings on a small scale.
The Feast of the Gods. The Wedding of Peleus and Thetis
The Feast of the Gods. The Wedding of Peleus and Thetis
The wedding of Thetis and Peleus
The Wedding of Peleus and Thetis
The Feast of the Gods
Feast of the Gods - The Marriage of Peleus and Thetis
The feast of the gods at the wedding of Peleus and Thetis
The Marriage of Peleus and Thetis
The Feast of Bacchus
The wedding of Thetis and Peleus