African

Ancient Mediterranean

Asian

European and American

Art since 1900

European and American Art

The painting depicts the childhood of Jupiter, the chief god of Roman mythology. Jupiter's father Saturn had been warned that one of his own children would dethrone him, and to prevent this had swallowed each of them at birth. But Saturn's wife, Ops, hid the baby Jupiter and gave her husband a stone wrapped in swaddling clothes, which he swallowed instead. As shown here, Jupiter was brought up in secret by nymphs on the island of Crete, fed on honey and goat's milk. When he grew up Jupiter gave his father a drink that forced Saturn to disgorge the children he had swallowed, alive and unharmed. Jupiter and his brothers, Pluto and Neptune, overthrew Saturn and became the rulers of the heavens, the underworld and the sea.

Pictures of Jupiter's infancy, evoking a refuge from danger amid rustic peace and plenty, were popular in Chaperon's time.