Prometheus Eternal
In Greek mythology, Prometheus is the titan who steals fire from Mount Olympus and brings it down to humanity. As punishment, Zeus chains him to a rock on a mountain where an eagle eats out his liver every day for eternity. One of the most famous depictions of the myth in art is Peter Paul Rubens’s seventeenth-century collaboration with Frans Snyders, Prometheus Bound. In the fabulous Prometheus Eternal, a group of modern artists engage with the myth and famous painting, with results ranging from the very witty to the deeply poignant. In these pages, Prometheus is a superhero, muses on the role of father figures, is transposed into the domestic (and mortal) sphere, and converses congenially with the eagle; humanity writes a brief letter to Prometheus; and Rubens’s entertaining bio is probably how all art history courses should be taught. The eight short comics have vividly different styles, all equally entrancing. (One would expect no less from a collaboration with an art museum.) Though short, it’s easy to spend hours poring over this book.
Reviewed by
Allyce Amidon
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
