#oreithya

In this painting Boreas, the Greek god of the north wind, is represented as usual as a winged man of mature age, with hair floating in the wind. According to the legend, he carried off Oreithyia (daughter of Erechtheus) from the banks of the Ilissus and by her had several children. However, Evelyn’s portryal of Boreas is sensitive and tender in comparision with more the more standard bachanelean treatments of the character.

Boreas, the god of the stormy north wind, loved the Athenian princess Oreithyia. Taking advantage of his natural powers, he forcibly abducted her after the Athenians opposed a marital union with the wild god. The picture was likely a direct commission from Emperor Charles VI. At that time the Kingdom of Naples was ruled by Austria, and Solimena was indisputably the leading painter of the Neapolitan school.

evelyn de morgan (english, 1855-1919), “boreas and oreithya” (1896) and studies

The model for Boreas was the professional artist’s model Alessandro di Marco. By this time he was heading towards the end of his life as a model however he is most notably known for his appearance as Merlin in Edward Burne-Jone’s The Beguling of Merlin (1872-77) painted some two decades earlier. According to the artist George Richmond, he was ‘the living embodiment of a classical sculpture’ and Evelyn’s representation of him llustrates that even later in life his figure conforms to artistic ideals of masculine beauty.

This is a playlist inspired by @oreithyia ! If you want a playlist based on your own blog, feel free to message me and I'd love to make you one :)