Three Graces | Glossary | National Gallery, London (2024)

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What do the three graces represent in art? ›

Taking its motif from ancient Greek literature, The Three Graces depicts the three daughters of Zeus, each of whom is described as being able to bestow a particular gift on humanity: (from left to right) Euphrosyne (mirth), Aglaia (elegance) and Thalia (youth and beauty).

Their purpose was to bring festive joy and enhance the pleasures of life by their refinement and gentleness and, as the Grecian temple in the left-hand background here suggests, they dwelt with the gods. The Graces were a popular theme for artists and Rubens depicted this subject several times.

The Three Graces is an oil painting by Italian painter Raphael, housed in the Musée Condé of Chantilly, France. The date of origin has not been positively determined, though it seems to have been painted at some point after his arrival to study with Pietro Perugino in about 1500, possibly 1503-1505.

Their names are Euphrosyne (joy), Thalia (bloom), and Aglaia (brilliance). Aglaia is the youngest, and the wife of Hephaestus. For the inspiration of the Graces was deemed as necessary to the plastic arts, as to music, poetry, science, eloquence, beauty, and enjoyment of life.

In Greek mythology, the Three Graces were the daughters of Zeus and the nymph Eurynome and they presided over dances, banquets, and all pleasurable social events. They were believed to bring goodwill to both gods and mortals and to endow artists and poets with the ability to create beautiful works of art.

Next to Mercury stand the Three Graces, who represent the feminine virtues of Chastity, Beauty, and Love; the pearls on their heads symbolize purity. Next to them, in the center of the composition, is the Roman goddess Venus, who protects and cares for the institution of marriage.

In works by Homer, the Graces were the handmaidens of Aphrodite, goddess of love, and closely associated with other fertility gods. Their symbol is spring flowers, particularly the rose and myrtle, although the Graces themselves symbolize beauty. The Graces were also worshipped in a cult throughout ancient Greece.

The Three Graces are associated with Aphrodite (Venus), and embody such qualities as shared friendship, or chastity, beauty and love. Traditionally the Graces had been shown in a more static arrangement, with one of the sisters facing the opposite way to the others.

Rubens converted to Catholicism and entered the Latin school of Rombout Verdonck, where he received training in the classics. He also worked as a page for a nobleman, an experience that probably taught him the courtly manners that were so important for his future career.

In Greek mythology, Zeus has three daughters who can shower gifts on humanity. The gifts are happiness, wisdom and flowering — referred to as the Three Graces. Later, in the Bible, they were reframed as faith, hope and charity. There are other iterations of these Graces as well.

What do The Three Graces hold? ›

In The Three Graces (1504–05), Raphael situated the figures at the foreground of a multilayered, pastoral landscape. Each holds a circular object, alternately identified as apples or golden orbs.

Among the many historical buildings is the world famous Liverpool Waterfront, and dominating this, or as some prefer, keeping guard, are the Three Graces. It is assumed this group of buildings are named after the mythological Greek 'Three Graces', who were the goddesses of charm, beauty and creativity.

Hesiod in the Theogony (though the authorship is doubtful, this poem is good evidence) says that the three Graces are daughters of Zeus and Eurynome, giving them the names of Aglaia, Euphrosyne and lovely Thalia.

The Three Graces were three daughters of Zeus who personified grace, beauty and charm. Hesiod, in the 'Theogony', names them as Aglaia, Euphrosyne and Thalia.

The number of Graces varied in different legends, but usually there were three: Aglaia (Brightness), Euphrosyne (Joyfulness), and Thalia (Bloom). They are said to be daughters of Zeus and Hera (or Eurynome, daughter of Oceanus) or of Helios and Aegle, a daughter of Zeus.

In works by Homer, the Graces were the handmaidens of Aphrodite, goddess of love, and closely associated with other fertility gods. Their symbol is spring flowers, particularly the rose and myrtle, although the Graces themselves symbolize beauty. The Graces were also worshipped in a cult throughout ancient Greece.

The symbolism of the Three Graces goes back to mythology. The poet Hesiod describes three goddesses: Aglaia (who represents radiance), Euphrosyne (representing joy), and Thalia (representing flowering). Together, they constitute an ideal of beauty and grace.

The Three Graces are associated with Aphrodite (Venus), and embody such qualities as shared friendship, or chastity, beauty and love. Traditionally the Graces had been shown in a more static arrangement, with one of the sisters facing the opposite way to the others.

The Three Graces were called Aglaia, Euphrosyne, and Thalya, and they were always together. Besides love and beauty, the girls were also associated with nature, creativity, fertility, charm, splendor, and joy, in other words, graces.