Visual: “Parnassus” by Mengs shows Apollo standing naked in the center of a meadow area, surrounded by clothed women. Apollo is raised on a pedestal as to make him taller than any other figure in the work, and forms a triangle with the other individuals. The work is decidedly Neo-Classical with its idealized bodies, and despite the frenzy of movement, a very ordered appearance. Apollo is shown as holding a laurel and a lyre, which are apparently attributes of achievement.

Context: According to http://www.arthermitage.org/Anton-Raphael-Mengs/Parnassus.html, the work is one of Mengs’ earliest Neo-Classical works, and is a great example of his success in overcoming his baroque foundation. Apparently the work is in the central part of the ceiling of the Villa Albani in Rome, and was commissioned by Cardinal Alessandro Albani, along with a number of other similar works by various artists.

Subjective: I am not a big fan of “Parnassus”. I am not a big fan of Neo-Classical art over all, and certainly do not enjoy the visual stimulation side of the work. In addition, I was unable to find any background on the work other than the roles and names of each of the individuals in the work (almost all of them were his muses), which leaves me with a general feeling of discontent.