The Torture of Prometheus

Jean-Louis-César Lair’s The Torture of Prometheus depicts the dramatic and visceral punishment of the Titan who defied the gods. Prometheus is chained to a column, his body contorted in anguish yet rendered with classical grace. The crimson drapery cascading over his form contrasts sharply with the dark, storm-filled sky, heightening the sense of divine wrath. An eagle, symbolizing Zeus, claws at Prometheus's exposed flesh, embodying the eternal torment inflicted as retribution for giving fire to humanity. The painting’s stark lighting emphasizes the muscular tension and vulnerability of Prometheus, conveying both his suffering and unyielding defiance.