Apollo killing the Cyclops
- Artist: Domenichino
- Date: 1616-18
- Medium: fresco, transferred to canvas
- Museum: The National Gallery
- Collection record: The National Gallery website
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About this artwork
This is "Apollo killing the Cyclops" by Domenichino. These are the Cyclops, a mythical race of giants, each with a single eye in the middle of his forehead. The scene is one of ten frescoes that originally adorned the walls of a garden pavilion in the grounds of the Villa Aldobrandini in Frascati, near Rome. Eight of them were transferred to canvas and are now here.
The painting is done as a trompe l'oeil tapestry with an embroidered border. If you look closely at the lower right corner, you'll see that it's been drawn up to reveal a dwarf chained to a barred window, along with some fruit and a plate of leftovers - some of which have even been stolen by a cat. This is a story in itself, really. The artist was commissioned to paint this scene as a punishment for the dwarf's impertinence towards his owner, Cardinal Pietro Aldobrandini. It's a clever and humorous addition to an otherwise epic tale.
Domenichino's work here represents the conflict between reason and brute force - themes that were significant during the Baroque period. The Cyclops, with their single eye, may symbolize the darker aspects of human nature, while Apollo, as the god of reason and light, stands in opposition to them. It's a fascinating dynamic to explore, and one that continues to captivate viewers to this day.
See it in person
Apollo killing the Cyclops hangs in The National Gallery on Trafalgar Square, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
