NYCTIMENE

oil on canvas (50 x 100 cm)

PRIVATE COLLECTION

Ovid, Metamorphoses book II.

Nictimene committed the most wicked crimes, for which Minerva changed her to the bird of night—and ever since has claimed her as her own instead of me; and this despite the deed for which she shuns the glorious light of day, and conscious of her crime conceals her shame in the dark night—Minerva's Owl now called. All the glad birds of day, indignant shun, and chase her from the skies.