The Myth of Prometheus (Piero di Cosimo)

The Myth of Prometheus is a series of two panels painted by Piero di Cosimo, executed in 1515.

The Myth of Prometheus (1515) Oil on panel, Alte Pinakothek, is held at Munich.

A second version of The Myth of Prometheus (1515) Oil on panel, Musée des Beaux-Arts, is held in Strasbourg.

The Strasbourg version depicts a statue addressed by Prometheus on the left side of the canvas, with other activities depicted elsewhere on the canvas with equal prominence, including a dark bird on the right side of the canvas apparently the symbolic of the eternal torment of Prometheus as recorded in mythological sources.

Erwin Panofsky in his book Studies in Iconography commented on the painting of Prometheus in comparison to paintings about Vulcan (mythology) and the theme of human development of primitive mankind to civilized mankind stating: "...represent the myth of Prometheus and Epimetheus.