Ganymede and The Eagle

myminifactory

The design element of contour strongly features in the figure of Ganymede. As evidenced by various versions, including Ganymede Offering the Drinking Cup (1804) and Ganymede Filling the Cup (1816), the 1817 work showcases him as a kneeling figure watering an eagle. According to ancient tales, Ganymede, son of King Tros who gave Troy its name, was renowned for his exceptional beauty. The gods select him as Zeus' cupbearer due to his stunning appearance. Fueled by intense passion, Zeus disguises himself in eagle feathers and tracks down the youth on the Plain of Troy with the intention of luring him away to Olympus. Ganymede innocently offers his drinking bowl to this descending eagle, and the concealed supreme Olympic god dips his beak into the vessel. As a symbol of his ancestry, Ganymede wears the Phrygian cap and holds a jug in his right hand. Designed specifically for a single viewpoint, the sculpture is essentially held together by its defined outline. This highlights the relief-like nature of the group and serves as proof of Thorvaldsen's exceptional mastery of line, which he had perfected through numerous bas-reliefs of the time.