“The Fall of Phaeton,” an artwork by Peter Paul Rubens, aptly exemplifies the drama and energy characteristic of the Baroque movement. Created circa 1604 – 1605, it is rendered in oil on canvas and measures 131.2 by 98.4 cm. This mythological painting is part of the collection at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, United States.
The artwork portrays the cataclysmic descent of Phaeton, derived from Greek mythology. The central figure, Phaeton, son of the sun god Helios, is depicted amidst a violent plunge from his father’s chariot, which he attempted to drive across the sky. Ill-equipped to control the mighty steeds pulling the sun, Phaeton’s reckless journey leads to chaos. The composition is tumultuous, with the horses rearing and twisting violently—clear symbols of the ungoverned natural forces. The figures surrounding Phaeton, likely representations of the Heliades—his sisters transformed into poplar trees and mourners of his demise—are engulfed in a turbulent mix of cloud and flame.
Rubens masterfully conveys movement and emotion through dynamic poses, vibrant colors, and intense contrasts of light and shadow. The artwork’s expressiveness and theatricality convey the human experience of confronting overwhelming power and the consequences of hubris, encapsulating the essential qualities of the Baroque era.
