Jean-Leon Gerome (French, 1824-1904)
Pygmalion and Galeta
Oil on Canvas, 35 x 27 in.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
New York
From Ovid's Metamorphoses, X, in which Pygmalion, a sculptor fell in love with an ivory statue he had carved.
"Pygmalion made offerings to Venus and made a wish. "I sincerely wished the ivory sculpture will be changed to a real woman." However, he couldn’t bring himself to express it. When he returned home, Cupid sent by Venus kissed the ivory sculpture on the hand. At that time, it was changed to a beautiful woman. A ring was put on Galatea's finger. It was Cupid’s ring which made love achieved. Venus granted his wish."