Five Mythological Love Stories in Painting

Mythological love stories are among the most magnificent tales ever created, capturing the hearts of generations. Artists, both in the past and today, revive the motifs of these stories in sculpture, retell them in literature, perform them on stage, and depict them in paintings. Knowing them makes a museum visit far more interesting, so let us explore the mythological tales of different cultures and how they have been portrayed in works of painting.

1. Alcyone and Ceyx

Richard Wilson, "Ceyx and Alcyone," 1760, photo Wikimedia Commons

One of the most magnificent and best-known love stories of Greek mythology is that of Alcyone and Ceyx, the queen and king of the Greek region of Trachis. Their love was so strong and profound that both gods and mortals were captivated by their devotion to each other. Alcyone and Ceyx themselves were so enchanted by their mutual love that they began calling themselves Hera and Zeus, the queen and king of all the gods. When the true Hera and Zeus heard of this, they grew angry and decided to punish Alcyone and Ceyx.

One day, Ceyx was sailing home from a long voyage to return to his wife, who awaited him on the shore. Zeus hurled a powerful bolt of lightning straight from the sky, which overturned the ship and killed Ceyx as he sailed. When Alcyone learned that her husband would never return to her, she began to beg Hera to bring Ceyx back. Taking pity on the grief-stricken woman, Hera returned Ceyx's lifeless body to the shore, but Alcyone, unable to bear her overwhelming sorrow, drowned herself.

Charles-Andre van Loo, "Ceyx and Alcyone," 1750, photo Wikimedia Commons

Showing mercy to the grief-stricken couple, Zeus transformed Alcyone and Ceyx into kingfishers, which every year, during the Halcyon days, come to hatch their eggs. In Greek mythology, the Halcyon days are associated with idyllic happiness and fullness. Every December 14th, the gods calm the sea so that the kingfishers, also known as halcyons, can come to hatch their eggs.

Both painters, Richard Wilson and Charles-Andre van Loo, depict in their paintings the lifeless body of Ceyx returning to Alcyone as she waits on the shore. Wilson's work appeared in 1768 and was met with very favorable reviews for its powerful and dramatic depiction of the story.

2. Zal and Rudaba

Mo`en Mosavver, "Shahnameh," 1630

The love story between Zal, king of Sistan, and Rudaba, daughter of the king of Kabul, is one of the best-known tales of Persian mythology.

The myth tells of Zal, who falls in love with a fairy-tale princess after hearing of her beauty and her black locks that reach the ground. This fairy-tale heroine is Princess Rudaba. Interestingly, the princess herself, also hearing tales of Zal's incredible strength, falls in love with him in turn.

Zal, having fallen in love with Rudaba, prepares to journey to the princess and shares his plans with his father. However, his father warns his son that Rudaba is the daughter of the wicked king Zahhak, an enemy of their family. Nevertheless, driven by his powerful love, Zal sets out to find the princess.

After a long journey, Zal finally arrives. Rudaba, seeing him and wishing to keep his arrival hidden from the guards, lets down her long black braids, like Rapunzel, so that Zal can climb up to her unnoticed.

Mo`en Mosavver, "Shahnameh," 1630

As soon as they meet, they realize their love is real and strong. Unlike most mythological tales, this Persian story does not end in tragic circumstances; on the contrary, upon realizing the couple's sincere love, both families set aside their disagreements and allow the young couple to marry. Some time later, Zal and Rudaba have two children.

This story is depicted in a series of miniatures whose author, though unconfirmed, is believed to be the Persian miniature painter Mo`en Mosavver. The miniatures capture the most famous scene of the mythological tale, in which Rudaba lets down her hair so that Zal can climb up to her unnoticed.

3. Sita and Rama

"Sita and Rama in the Forest," 1845, photo Wikimedia Commons

Indian culture is rich with mythological love stories. One such story, known as the Diwali story, tells of Prince Rama and Princess Sita. A series of Indian miniatures depicts this love story, and although the authors of these works are unknown, the painting style originates from the Rajasthani and Pahari schools of art.

The myth tells how Rama's father, King Dasharatha, promised one of his five wives that he would grant her any wish. The wife's wish turned out to be that her son Ravana become king instead of Rama. The king was displeased, but, keeping his promise, granted his wife's wish — the next king after Dasharatha's death would be Ravana. However, the wife's demand did not end there. She also wished that Rama, together with his beloved wife Sita, leave the kingdom and live in the forest for 14 years.

Keeping his promise, the king sends his son Rama and his wife Sita into the forest, where they settle. Some time later, after the king dies, his throne passes to the wicked Ravana. Ravana, reveling in his power, decides he wants Rama's wife Sita for his own. He abducts Sita and carries her off to one of his islands.

Grief-stricken, Rama sets out to find Sita and to kill Ravana, the king who has caused so much suffering. With the help of the monkey Hanuman, Rama finds Sita and kills Ravana in battle. The couple decides to return to their homeland, where Rama becomes the rightful king. On their journey back to their homeland, the people light oil lamps so that Rama and Sita can find their way. Since that time, people light lamps during the Diwali festival, celebrating the triumph of good over evil.

4. Tristan and Isolde

Edmund Blair Leighton, "Tristan and Isolde," 1902.

The tale of Tristan and Isolde is one of the best-known Irish love stories, one that has inspired Western culture for centuries. Tristan is sent to Ireland to find Princess Isolde and bring her back to his father, who plans to marry her. He succeeds in finding the princess, but Isolde's beauty enchants Tristan, and the two fall in love.

Overcome with grief at the thought that they must part (for the princess is promised to his father), the young couple decides to drink poison so that they may remain together in the kingdom of heaven. However, it turns out that what they drink is a love potion, and they fall even more deeply in love with one another.

John Duncan, "Tristan and Isolde," 1912, photo Wikimedia Commons

In the end, they must return to the kingdom, where Isolde marries Tristan's father. The two lovers meet in secret, until at last the king begins to suspect the betrayal of his son and his wife. Ultimately, the king sentences them both to death. Tristan and Isolde flee into the forest and thus save themselves, but the king finds them there as well. The king demands that Isolde return to the kingdom as his wife, while Tristan, heartbroken, is banished forever from the kingdom, never to return.

German painters of the 19th-century art schools depicted the story of Tristan and Isolde beautifully in painting, especially the scene of their meeting. This story is also portrayed in a work by the Scottish painter John Duncan, in which we see the scene of the young lovers drinking the love potion and falling even more deeply in love.

5. Cupid and Psyche

No list of love stories would be complete without the Roman god of love, Cupid, and his beloved Psyche. Their love story began when Venus, consumed with jealousy toward the mortal Psyche for her indescribable beauty, told Cupid to make Psyche fall in love with a monster.

Cupid descended to earth to carry out Venus's wish, but instead fell in love with Psyche himself. They began meeting in secret, on one condition: Psyche was never to see what Cupid looked like, so Cupid visited her only at night. The painter Goya captured the lovers' secret nighttime meetings in his famous painting "Allegory of Love."

Goya, "Allegory of Love," 1798-1805, photo Wikimedia Commons

One day, Psyche broke their agreement and secretly looked upon her love. Feeling betrayed, Cupid left Psyche. Grief-stricken, Psyche began to beg Venus to bring Cupid back to her. Venus agreed, but Psyche had to complete a series of difficult tasks assigned to her.

Along the path of these tasks, Psyche and Cupid endured countless further hardships. Worn down by his pain, Cupid flew to the gods and begged them to let him be with Psyche. In the end, the gods agreed and made Psyche immortal, so that she and Cupid could remain together forever.

The Swiss painter Jean-Pierre Saint-Ours captured the reunion of Cupid and Psyche in his painting. He depicts the lovers in a moment of ecstasy, when, after so much hardship and trial, Cupid and Psyche are together again. The love story ends with the couple marrying in the heavens and having a daughter named Voluptas. Voluptas means pleasure.

Jean-Pierre Saint-Ours, "The Reunion of Cupid and Psyche," 1789-1792, photo Wikimedia Commons

Based on https://www.dailyartmagazine.com/mythical-love-stories-art/, prepared by Anžela Duchovska