Nyx The Night Goddess Analysis

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"Nyx, the Night Goddess" by Gustave Morean

Gustave Moreau was born in 1826 in France and died in 1898. His father was an architect, but, sensing Moreau's talent as a boy, sent him to study under Picot. His first work was a "Pieta." This generally religious subject theme, both Christian and mythological, continued through the rest of his career. His mythological subjects ranged from the Greek Medusa to the Egyptian Sphinx back to the Greek Nyx. He wished to perpetuate the traditional subjects. However, this was not without controversy.
During Moreau's career, naturalism became increasingly popular. It became so popular, that his works were sorely criticized for their subject matter and style. However, those who look back on the history of art remember him as a very important figure. He was one of the most important precursors to the symbolist and surrealist movements. Perhaps his greatest influence was through pupils, among whom are greats such as Henri Matisse and Georges Rouault. At his death, he left over three thousand works, many of which are now on display in some of the more well known institutions such as the Harvard Art Museums and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

The particular painting displayed above was painted in 1880 during the very end of the Neo-Classical art period.

Neo-Classic subjects were taken from ancient Greece and Rome, most often their mythology or values. It was unemotional and rigid. According to some scholars, it owes it's subject matter largely to the Renaissance. Yet, it was brought about primarily as a longing for the perceived ideals and forms of art in ancient times. It flourished in part due to the Enlightenment, as the styles of thinking melded very

well.

Nyx was the primordial goddess of night, daughter of Chaos and mother of Nemesis, Hypnos, Thanatos, Geras, Eris, and Aether among many others, at least a few by virgin birth. She lived in Tartarus according to Hesiod. In some myths, she travelled across the sky, always chasing the morning. In another, it is revealed even Jupiter is terrified of her.

Image"Nyx" by A-u-R-e-L

Perhaps the most obvious difference between the two works is the difference in mediums. A-u-R-e-L used some form of digital medium, while Moreau used paint. A-u-R-e-L focused far more on the primordial goddesses's role as night, while Moreau focused on her supposedly ideal form. A-u-R-e-L did well showing Nyx chasing the day across the sky as she is said to do in a few myths. They both depict Nyx with paler skin, darker clothing, at least mildly fearsome features, and an ideal body for the time.