# Prometheus Being Chained by Vulcan

- By: Dirck van Baburen (ca. –1624)
- Date: 1623
- Medium: canvas, oil paint (paint)
- Classification: painting
- Dimensions: support: height 201 cm x width 182 cm
- Credit line: Gift of J. von Loehr, Caïro
- Museum: [Rijksmuseum](https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/collection/object/SK-A-1606--dcada83dbac60d81f872f9a7807d1700)
- Rights: [Public Domain Mark](http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/)
- Picture: https://iiif.micr.io/QDJoL/full/!1920,1080/0/default.jpg
- Who can see it: Teens profiles and older (museums give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the museum's own words)

Prometheus stole fire from the gods and gave it to mankind. As punishment, Vulcan chained him to a rock, where an eagle pecked out his liver causing him excruciating pain. Here we see Prometheus being chained, his face contorted with fear, while Mercury laughs at him. Van Baburen borrowed the dramatic illumination and the figure’s sunburned hands and faces from his great model Caravaggio.