I hope some of you art experts can help me out! I'm trying to remember the artist and the location of a famous painting. It has an image of Hell with a monstrous Satan/Minos (whomever) eating a person and the person's legs are hanging out of his mouth. Yes, pretty horrifying, so you'd think I'd remember this because I've seen it more than once! I suppose since there are so many depictions of Hell in Italian churches and museums I've lost track of which is which!! Anyone know the who/where of this?
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
One of the most famous depictions is in the Baptistry in Firenze, but as you know, that's a pretty common description.
Edit: also the Last Judgement in the Scrovegni Chapel.
And it's Satan or the Devil.
There are hundreds painted from the 12th-15th centuries in particular. This was a theme often depicted above the inside entrance door of a church or chapel, so it would be the last thing people saw and passed under before leaving the sacred space for the secular world, kind of a message to "behave out there".
Posted by
TX
980 posts
Pretty generic description but I'll give it a shot. Was it this version?
http://www.poderesantapia.com/art/giovannidamodena.htm
But honestly many depictions of The Inferno depict Satan eating someone.
DJ
edit: the Florence baptistry mosaic (but not a painting) could be a contender too: http://www.florenceinferno.com/baptistry-ceiling-mosaic/
Posted by
Sapulpa, OK, USA
6322 posts
Susan, are you sure it's Italian? There's a famous, and very gruesome, painting by Goya called "Saturn Devouring His Son." It's in the Prado in Madrid.
Posted by
OP
North Carolina
362 posts
Zoe, YES, that's it!! Thank you!! Also thanks for the extra commentary. Definitely Florence Baptistery.
Posted by
OP
North Carolina
362 posts
Yes, Jane, that one's pretty gruesome, too! But I knew it wasn't that one since I've never been to Spain. Maybe one of these days!
Posted by
OP
North Carolina
362 posts
Donnybee - really terrifying! I visited this church in September, don't know how I missed this fresco scene! I saw military in the piazza but thought they were there because of lots going on - some kind of big assembly with loudspeakers and people making speeches.