# Prometheus Being Chained by Vulcan

[View the canonical artwork record](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/baburen-dirck-van-r4525c7339e56d1/prometheus-being-chained-by-vulcan-r4cc936e18e12f9>)

## Artwork

- Artist: [BABUREN, Dirck van](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/baburen-dirck-van-r4525c7339e56d1>)
- Date: 1601-1650
- Technique: Oil on canvas, 202 x 184 cm

## Commentary

With Mercury looking on with amusement, Vulcan the god of fire is chaining Prometheus to a rock. The eagle which is to devour his liver every day - Prometheus&#39; punishment for stealing fire from the gods and giving it to mankind - is hovering ominously in a corner. In this mythological scene, Van Baburen shows himself to be a true Caravaggist, with contrasts of light and shade, dramatic expressions and unidealized people with sun-tanned hands and faces. &lt;p&gt; &lt;table align=left cellpadding=5 border=1 width=320 bgcolor=&#34;\#99cccc&#34;&gt; &lt;tr valign=middle&gt;&lt;td&gt;&lt;img src=&#34;/support/gif/listen.gif&#34; border=0 valign=middle&gt; Suggested listening \(streaming mp3, 17 minutes\):&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=&#34;\#&#34; onClick=&#34;w=window.open \(&#39;/music1/19\_cent/goldmark\_prometheus.html&#39;, &#39;newWin&#39;, &#39;scrollbars=yes,status=no,dependent=yes,screenX=0,screenY=0,width=350,height=350&#39;\);w.opener=this;w.focus\(\);return true&#34;&gt;&lt;b&gt;Karl Goldmark: Prometheus Bound, overture op.38&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;/table&gt;

## Related artworks

- [Apollo Flaying Marsyas](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/baburen-dirck-van-r4525c7339e56d1/apollo-flaying-marsyas-rf1fb674b229d60>)
- [Christ Washing the Apostles Feet](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/baburen-dirck-van-r4525c7339e56d1/christ-washing-the-apostles-feet-r37c5a2fe9c65d4>)
- [Man Playing a Jew&#39;s Harp](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/baburen-dirck-van-r4525c7339e56d1/man-playing-a-jews-harp-r6a4e9925ff2f53>)
- [St Sebastian Attended by St Irene and Her Maid](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/baburen-dirck-van-r4525c7339e56d1/st-sebastian-attended-by-st-irene-and-her-maid-rdd81c96cc6d284>)
- [The Capture of Christ with the Malchus Episode](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/baburen-dirck-van-r4525c7339e56d1/the-capture-of-christ-with-the-malchus-episode-r0ce962b14c1b86>)
- [The Entombment of Christ](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/baburen-dirck-van-r4525c7339e56d1/the-entombment-of-christ-r6ed64d181ed470>)
- [The Procuress](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/baburen-dirck-van-r4525c7339e56d1/the-procuress-r7d94eafc76ab15>)

## Attribution

[Web Gallery of Art](<https://beta.wga.hu/pages/about>)