The Death of Hyacinthos

The Death of Hyacinthos
French: La mort d'Hyacinthe
ArtistJean Broc
Year1801
MediumOil on canvas
LocationMusée Sainte-Croix, Poitiers

The Death of Hyacinthos, sometimes referred to as The Death of Hyacinth, is an oil painting completed by Jean Broc in 1801. This is Broc's most famous work and is considered to be drawn from the Metamorphoses by Ovid. It is a depiction of the dead Hyacinthos cradled by his lover, the Greek god Apollo. In front of them is the discus which caused Hyacinth's death, which was thrown by Apollo himself.[1] The discus had been blown off course by the west wind Zephyrus, who was also in love with young Hyacinthos and was jealous of Apollo. From Hyacinthos' blood sprang the hyacinth flower which bears his name.[2] The painting presently belongs in the collection of Poitiers and is often displayed at the Musée Sainte-Croix.

  1. ^ Bion, Joseph Duffield Reed – Bion of Smyrna: The Fragments and the Adonis. Cambridge University Press, 1997. ISBN 0-521-57316-5
  2. ^ Rosenblum, Robert (1974). "Catalog entry 16". From David to Delacroix, French Painting from 1774 to 1830. pp. 340–341.