"Les Amours de Phaëton"

"Les Amours de Phaëton" is an oil painting by the French artist Eugène Delacroix that depicts the mythological story of Phaëton, the son of the sun god Helios. In the myth, Phaëton attempts to drive his father’s fiery chariot across the sky but loses control, resulting in chaos and destruction. The painting captures the dramatic and intense moment of Phaëton’s passionate but reckless pursuit of his divine own glory, emphasizing themes of ambition, hubris, and the consequences of overreaching. Delacroix’s use of vibrant color and dynamic composition conveys the tumultuous energy of this mythological episode.