Fall of Phaeton

The Fall of Phaeton by Peter Paul Rubens is a compelling Mythological painting exemplifying the Baroque style through its dynamic composition and dramatic use of light and dark. Painted on a panel with oil paints, it captures the chaos as Phaeton loses control of the chariot of the sun, with Zeus hurling thunderbolts to the right. The scene features expressive figures—horses, gods, and mythological entities—arranged in a diagonal oval that guides the viewer’s eye around the tumultuous moment. Symbols like butterfly-winged hours and disrupted celestial circles evoke the cosmic upheaval, emphasizing the myth's themes of hubris and divine retribution in a masterful Baroque manner.