Clymene vertelt haar zoon Phaëton over zijn vader Apollo 1677 - 1755

Elias van Nijmegen created this pen and watercolor drawing, Clymene vertelt haar zoon Phaëton over zijn vader Apollo, the date is unknown. The figures are tightly composed within the frame, the gentle washes of colour giving a luminous if somewhat ethereal quality. There is a clear contrast between the earthly realm and the heavens. Clymene gestures towards Apollo in his sun chariot above. This division is not just pictorial but also thematic, highlighting the separation between the mortal and divine. Van Nijmegen employs a semiotic language here, where gestures and symbolic elements convey meaning. Clymene’s pointing finger directs Phaeton's gaze, guiding not just his sight but also his understanding of his lineage and destiny. Apollo, framed by radiant light, is coded as divine and powerful. This piece operates within a broader discourse about knowledge and revelation, structured by a formal arrangement that emphasizes relational dynamics, using visual cues to invite interpretation and speculation.