Historien bag maleriet Callisto

The story behind the painting Callisto

Callisto was a nymph in Greek mythology. It is a tragic story in many ways, and this painting is a tribute to the beautiful moon Callisto and female power.

Callisto was a nymph and daughter of King Lycaon. Callisto was a follower of Artemis, who attracted Zeus (Jupiter). Zeus transformed himself into the figure of Artemis and seduced Callisto in this disguise and raped her. She became pregnant, and when this was discovered, Callisto was expelled from Artemis' group, and was transformed into a bear. Later, when she was about to be killed by her son, she was placed among the stars.

The fourth Galilean moon of Jupiter is named after Callisto. Callisto is thus a moon orbiting the planet Jupiter and is the third largest moon in the Solar System.