Apollo Flaying Marsyas

1637 · Oil on canvas

The god Apollo calmly flays the satyr Marsyas alive as punishment for challenging him to a music contest, Marsyas screaming upside down toward the viewer.

ArtistJJusepe de Ribera

MuseumRRoyal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium

MovementBBaroque

LocationBrussels, Belgium

Genremythological painting

Dimensions202 × 255 cm

SourceWikidata Q5701552

Why it matters

The god Apollo, calm and serene, flays the satyr Marsyas alive after beating him in a music contest, while Marsyas looks out at us as if begging for help.

Did you know?

It was painted in 1637.
Other versions are in Naples.
It shows the strong influence of Caravaggio's followers.

Based on the Wikipedia article Apollo and Marsyas (Ribera, Brussels) (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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