Artwork
Tereus' Banquet
Tereus' Banquet is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Peter Paul Rubens. It dates from 1636 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Overview
Peter Paul Rubens painted *Tereus' Banquet* in 1636, a large oil work that belongs to his series of mythological history paintings. Executed in the Flemish Baroque idiom, the canvas presents a tumultuous banquet scene rendered with vigorous colour and dynamic composition. The painting is part of the permanent collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid.
Subject & Meaning
The narrative derives from the Greek myth of King Tereus, who, after a series of betrayals, serves his own son Itys as a dish at a banquet. Rubens captures the moment of violent abduction, with a bearded figure gesturing toward a woman being seized, her infant clutched tightly, evoking themes of familial treachery and brutal retribution.
Technique & Style
Rubens employs the Baroque hallmark of chiaroscuro, contrasting deep reds and warm browns with illuminated flesh tones to heighten drama. The crowded interior, framed by red walls and ornate columns, is populated by swirling drapery and animated hair, conveying movement. Vigorous brushwork and a rich palette reinforce the scene’s emotional intensity.
History & Provenance
Completed in the mid‑1630s, the painting entered the Spanish royal collection before being transferred to the Museo del Prado, where it remains on display. Its provenance reflects the close diplomatic ties between Rubens and the Habsburg court, which frequently acquired his large-scale mythological works.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Sir Peter Paul Rubens ( ROO-bənz; Dutch: ; 28 June 1577 – 30 May 1640) was a Flemish artist and diplomat.
