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The mythological tale of  Saturn’s downfall has been used by artists  as a conveyance for their thoughts.  The story tells of Saturn’s response to a prediction that one of his five children would usurp his position of power. Saturn’s plan to alter this prediction is to swallow all of his offspring.  Upon hearing that her children were in danger, his wife plots to save at least one of them by taking a stone, wrapping it in a child’s blanket, and letting Saturn swallow the bundle.  The child saved was Jupiter.

Jupiter matures, overpowers his Father, and fulfills the prophecy.  He then commands his father to regurgitate all of his siblings and sends the old ruler to Italy to teach the peasants farming skills.

The  use of  horrific images from this myth  may be seen in Francisco Goya’s pessimistic comment on life and the passage of time. Chess pieces are utilized in my painting in an effort to distance the viewer from these terrors.  I believe gore and violence tend to inhibit a more thoughtful perusal of artist’s intentions.

 Being an optimistic person, my approach is beauty and reason first.  I act  on the premise that content follows form and I concentrate on the formal qualities found within the painting.