Apollo mourning the dead Coronis 1650 - 1699

Here we see an anonymous drawing titled "Apollo Mourning the Dead Coronis," rendering the tragic scene from Greek mythology in ink. The story of Apollo and Coronis is laced with themes of love, betrayal, and divine retribution. Apollo, the god of light and music, falls in love with Coronis, a mortal woman. While pregnant with Apollo's child, Coronis falls in love with a mortal man. Upon hearing of her infidelity, Apollo, in a fit of rage, kills her. Overcome with remorse, Apollo attempts to save their unborn child, Asclepius, by performing a divine caesarean. Here, the artist captures a moment of intense grief and regret. Apollo bends over Coronis, whose lifeless body is sprawled on the ground. The stark composition and emotional charge invite us to consider the consequences of unchecked anger and the complexities of divine-mortal relationships. The artist leaves us to reflect on how power imbalances, gender roles, and moral judgments shape these ancient stories and continue to resonate today.