Tantalus.

[NNadir]

Gioacchino Assereto Italian (Genovese) (1600 - 1649)

Joanneum National Museum, Graz, Austria.

[Aristus]

1. Where's the water?

The fruit swings away when Tantalus reaches up for it, and the water recedes when he bends to drink. He's reaching up, not bending down, but there's no water...

One of my favorite myths as a kid...

[NNadir]

3. I don't know how Assareto interpreted the myth, but there seems to be a body of water

in the background and the rocks look wet.

Maybe he envisioned Tantalus climbing a rock in his hellacious pool.

The myth, I think, speaks to a universal truth. If you do not feel as if you have lived this myth, you may not be trying hard enough to achieve something.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. My dear NNadir!

Ah, this is great!

I love the look of desire on his face...

Thank you!

[Blue-Jay]

4. Tantalus.

[velvet]

5. Tantalus

'Triffic painting. I guess Assereto decided it would look a bit boring if Tantalus was submerged in water up to his chin.

Here's another item of the same name, for keeping your liquor and cigars locked up from the servants ...

[Tuesday Afternoon]

6. thanks

for posting these paintings and talking about them.