Painting by the master of Bologna academicism Guido Reni “Atalanta and Hippomenies”. The size of the painting is 206 x 297 cm, oil on canvas. This painting by the Italian artist dates back to the early creative period of Guido Reni, the second version of the painting was created in 1622-1625, stored in the Capodimonte National Museum in Naples. Atalanta – Violet, daughter of Schönei, was famous for her beauty and quickness of running.
She offered to each of the seekers of her hand to compete in the race, and he, unarmed, had to run ahead, she followed him with a spear; if she didn’t catch up with him, she recognized her as her fiancé; otherwise, there would be inevitable death. Many young men fell from her hands, while Hippomene, the son of Megara or Ares, outwitted Atalanta with the help of Aphrodite.
The goddess gave him golden apples, which the Hippomenies dropped separately during the run. Raising them, Atalanta fell behind, and Hippomene was the first to reach the goal. But he forgot to thank Aphrodite; wanting to take revenge on Hippomenia, the goddess stirred up such a strong passion in him that Hippomene embraced his bride in the sanctuary of Zeus or Tsibela. Angry Tsibela turned them into lions. In general, the myths about Atalanta are often mixed and are in connection with ideas about Artemis.
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