Art UK has updated its cookies policy. By using this website you are agreeing to the use of cookies. To find out more read our updated Use of Cookies policy and our updated Privacy policy.

The Abduction of Ganymede

Image credit: National Trust Images

How you can use this image

This image can be used for non-commercial research or private study purposes, and other UK exceptions to copyright permitted to users based in the United Kingdom under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised. Any other type of use will need to be cleared with the rights holder(s).

Review the copyright credit lines that are located underneath the image, as these indicate who manages the copyright (©) within the artwork, and the photographic rights within the image.

The collection that owns the artwork may have more information on their own website about permitted uses and image licensing options.

Review our guidance pages which explain how you can reuse images, how to credit an image and how to find images in the public domain or with a Creative Commons licence available.

Notes

Add or edit a note on this artwork that only you can see. You can find notes again by going to the ‘Notes’ section of your account.

According to classical mythology, and told in Ovid's 'Metamorphoses', Zeus (or Jupiter) falls in love with the mortal Ganymede. He transforms himself into a giant eagle and bears Ganymede aloft whilst his dog and fellow shepherd, possibly his father Tros, leap to reach up to him.

Bottalla studied painting in Rome and one of his patrons there gave him the flattering nickname 'il Raffaellino' (little Raphael). He moved to Genoa in the early 1640s and began work on the monochrome frescoes in the Palazzo Ayrolo Negrone, but died before finishing them.

This work is part of a series painted in oil and distemper, known in Genoa as 'succhi d'erbe' (juices of plants), in order to look like a tapestry. According to records, the paintings were bought for Kingston Lacy from a Palazzo Cambiaso in Genoa by William Bankes (1786–1855) as works by Annibale Carracci, and Bankes regarded them as his finest acquisitions.

National Trust, Kingston Lacy

Wimborne Minster

Title

The Abduction of Ganymede

Medium

distemper on herringbone canvas

Measurements

H 366 x W 72.5 cm

Accession number

1257080.3

Acquisition method

bequeathed by Ralph Bankes, 1981

Work type

Painting

Tags

See a tag that’s incorrect or offensive? Challenge it and notify Art UK.

Help improve Art UK. Tag artworks and verify existing tags by joining the Tagger community.

Normally on display at

National Trust, Kingston Lacy

Wimborne Minster, Dorset BH21 4EA England

This venue is open to the public. Not all artworks are on display. If you want to see a particular artwork, please contact the venue.
View venue