Joseph Gandy

Jupiter Pluvius

1819

On loan

Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art 2 (Edinburgh, UK): Ray Harryhausen: Titan of Cinema

Artist: Joseph Gandy
Medium: Oil paint on canvas
Dimensions: Frame: 1885 × 2280 × 145 mm
Collection: Lent by The Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation (Charity Number SC001419) 2016
On long term loan
Reference: L03760

Display caption

This imposing picture divided critical opinion when it was exhibited in 1819. Taking his subject from the Ancient Greek writer Pausanias, Gandy shows the temple of Jupiter Pluvius, god of rainstorms, to the top left. Some critics admired the artist’s knowledge of ancient literary sources and architecture. Others thought it was too similar to the popular entertainments of the time, like painted panoramas and magic lantern shows.

Gallery label, August 2019

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