Juno Comanding the Sun to Set n.d.

John Flaxman created this delicate pencil drawing, Juno Commanding the Sun to Set, sometime before his death in 1826. Flaxman came of age during the Enlightenment and the rise of Neoclassicism, a period when artists turned to ancient Greece and Rome for inspiration. Here, Juno, queen of the gods in Roman mythology, is depicted standing on a cloud, commanding the sun god to halt his chariot and bring about nightfall. Flaxman often worked in a spare style that emphasized line and form, echoing the supposed purity and idealism of ancient art. Yet, what does it mean to return to ancient forms? The power dynamics at play, with a female goddess ordering the male sun god, offer a glimpse into gender roles and power. Consider Flaxman's own position as an artist – did he see himself as a mere vessel for these stories, or did he identify with the figures he depicted? This work invites us to reflect on how artists negotiate their identities.