Artwork
Pygmalion and Galatea
Pygmalion and Galatea is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Laurent Pêcheux. It dates from 1792 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.
About this work
Overview
Pygmalion and Galatea is an oil painting completed in 1792 by Laurent Pécheux, a French-born artist active in Italy.
Subject & Meaning
The painting illustrates the classical myth of Pygmalion, a sculptor who falls in love with his statue, Galatea, which is brought to life by Venus. The scene is set in a studio, where Pygmalion kneels beside the statue, his gesture suggesting the moment of its animation.
Technique & Style
The use of chiaroscuro creates a strong contrast between light and shadow, giving the figures a three-dimensional appearance. While Pécheux was associated with Neoclassicism, the painting's decorative treatment and mythological subject matter also reflect Rococo influences.
History & Provenance
The painting is now held in the State Hermitage Museum. It was created during Pécheux's period of activity in Rome and Northern Italy.
Artist & collection
Artist
Laurent Pécheux (17 July 1729 – 1821) was a French-born painter, active in Rome and Northern Italy in a Neoclassical-style.
