The Gods Representing the Planets
Classification
figures
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1921-6-285-122
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
**The Gods Representing the Planets** (1770) by German artist Thomas Christian Winck1738–1797) captures the celestial allure of classical mythology through allegorical figures. Winck, a Bavarian and painter active in the late Rococo era, often drew on ancient gods to symbolize cosmic forces—here evoking planets like Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn as divine personifications. Created during a time when Enlightenment interest in astronomy blended with Baroque traditions, this work reflects Europe's fascination with the heavens, bridging art, science, and legend. Though the medium remains under study...