Many of the myths recorded in Ovid’s Metamorphoses deal with power and violence, in one way or another. Also, the scene depicting the story of the goddess Diana and the hunter Actaeon on the ceiling painting in the main hall of the Kadriorg Palace refers to power and the punishment of those who defy the divine authority. The exhibition positions the grand ceiling painting, interpreted as an allegory of the Great Northern War, in the broader context of 18th-century court culture and European cultural history, and examines how European rulers of 17th- and 18th-century European rulers and stakeholders used Ovid’s work and his life story for ideological purposes. The exhibition reflects myths about the abuse of power and violence, as well as about self-empowerment and (gender) identity on the basis of contemporary social theories.
The exhibition presents a selection of artworks based on well-known myths, from museums in Estonia, the Czech Republic, France and Sweden, as well as rare historical volumes from libraries. The results of technical studies carried out on the ceiling paintings of Kadriorg Palace in 2024 and exciting new findings made during long-term research on archival materials will also be presented to the public.
Curators: Kerttu Männiste and Sophie Turner
Graphic design: Tuuli Aule
