Saturn 1638

This oil painting depicts the Roman god Saturn devouring one of his children, a scene from Roman mythology. The powerful composition by Peter Paul Rubens features the god's muscular physique, the dramatic lighting, and the contorted figures of the father and child. The painting, created in 1638 and housed in the Museo del Prado in Madrid, is an example of the Flemish Baroque style. The scene, while brutal, conveys the power and fear associated with Saturn, the god of time and agriculture. The work demonstrates Rubens' mastery of anatomy and his ability to capture the raw emotion of the moment.