Ovid's imagery pulses with energy, from Salmacis the water nymph's spluttery sexual assault in a pond to Semele combusting at the sight of Jupiter naked. |
Bacchus brings his mother Semele from the Underworld to Olympus. |
With thunders and lightnings he entered the chamber of Semele. |
Like Semele, I scorned the sports of mortals and thought only of my Beloved. |
The signature of the artist, William Kent pinxit, 1725, has been found a little to the left of the right foot of Semele. |
His mother, Semele, desired to see Zeus in all his glory, as he appeared when he made love to Hera. |