The Fall of Phaeton, Rubens

This work describes a moment in Greek mythology where Phaeton begs his father, Apollo, to allow him to drive the chariots of fire. When Apollo finally relented and handed over the reins of the chariots to his son, it confirmed one of his greatest fears: Phaeton lacked the temperament and strength to keep the chariots on course, unleashing chaos on the Earth's climate, with some places freezing and others burning.

At the beginning of his career, Rubens was already a connoisseur and lover of classical philosophical ideals. On his journeys to the major Italian cities in the early 1600s, he delved deeper into his knowledge of the ancient world, Renaissance painting, and authors closer to the classical model, including Raphael, Da Vinci, and Michelangelo. This is evident in the aesthetics, movement, and drama of this painting.