The Theme
Ovid’s Metamorphoses

“According to Ovid, everything began with chaos. The four elements — earth, air, fire and water — struggled to find their place. An unknown deity brought order: fire rose to the heavens, water filled the seas, the earth remained firm, and the air hovered in between. Thus the elements found harmony and restored balance to the world.”
(Rijksmuseum)

Ovid (43 BC – AD 17/18) was a Roman poet, and the Metamorphoses is his most celebrated work. It comprises more than 200 interconnected stories, each centred on the theme of transformation. At the heart of them all lies one powerful idea: everything is in a constant state of change.

The poem is divided into fifteen books. Each forms a distinct unit in its own right, yet their endings and beginnings are artfully interwoven, creating a continuous and elegantly structured narrative.

Key Figures and Stories

Among the most significant figures and episodes are:
The Giants – Book I
Apollo and Daphne – Book I
Jupiter and Io – Book I
Narcissus – Book III
Pyramus and Thisbe – Book IV
Hermaphroditus – Book IV
Perseus and Atlas – Book IV
Medusa – Book IV
Apollo and Marsyas – Book VI
Daedalus and Icarus – Book VIII
Pygmalion – Book X
And many more besides.

It is hardly surprising that these countless myths and stories have provided such rich inspiration for artists across the centuries.

One of the most important works in the exhibition is by Caravaggio, travelling from Rome: “Narcissus”, depicting the youth unable to tear his gaze away from his own reflection. Narcissus, a beautiful young man, rejected all who loved him. One day, he caught sight of his reflection in a pool and fell hopelessly in love with it. Unaware that it was only a fleeting image, he wasted away, consumed by his unattainable desire. According to Ovid, he was ultimately transformed into the flower that now bears his name, growing at the water’s edge.

From the Louvre comes “The Sleeping Hermaphroditus”. The figure itself dates back to the 2nd century AD. Discovered in 1618, it was acquired by Cardinal Scipione Borghese, who commissioned Gian Lorenzo Bernini to create the remarkable marble mattress on which the figure reclines — a striking Baroque addition to an ancient sculpture.

The story of “Pygmalion” appears twice in the exhibition: once as a sculpture by Auguste Rodin and once as a painting by Jean-Leon Gerome. According to the myth, Pygmalion was a gifted sculptor who shunned real women. Instead, he carved an ideal female figure from ivory and fell deeply in love with his own creation. He prayed to Venus to bring the statue to life — and his wish was granted. The sculpture awakened, and Pygmalion married Galatea.

Old Meets
Contemporary Art

The exhibition also features works by contemporary artists, showing that the themes of chaos, transformation, and love remain as compelling as ever.

The video work by Juul Kraijer explores the story of “Medusa”. Originally a priestess of the goddess Minerva, she was violated in the temple by Neptune. Yet it is not he who is punished; it is Medusa. In her anger, Minerva transforms Medusa into a fearsome creature: her hair becomes a writhing mass of snakes, and her gaze turns anyone who meets it to stone. Cast out from the world, she lives in isolation until Perseus kills her and uses her severed head as a powerful tool. What began as punishment and deterrent later becomes a symbol of strength, female rage, and resilience.

Also featured is one of the famous spider sculptures, Maman, by Louise Bourgeois. “Arachne” (from ancient Greek, meaning ‘spider’) also appears in Ovid’s tales. She was a talented but arrogant weaver who challenged Athena — the Greek goddess of art, craftsmanship, and skill — to a contest in weaving. Arachne won, but in doing so enraged Athena, who transformed her into a spider. Bourgeois’ Maman simultaneously references her own mother, who worked in Paris as a tapestry restorer, linking personal history to mythological storytelling.

Conclusion

We believe this exhibition will be a real crowd-puller! Perhaps not on the scale of the Vermeer exhibition a few years ago, but if you’re travelling to Amsterdam before May, make sure not to miss this exciting show at the Rijksmuseum.

And if you happen to be in Rome from June onwards, you’ll have another chance to experience it at the Galleria Borghese!

Yours,
Céline

Text rights: © Céline Mülich, 2026
Image rights: © Rijksmuseum press office
Exhibition views: © Rijksmuseum / Albertine Dijkema
Artwork images: from various museums (see individual captions)