Oil Painting Ganymede & Zeus Manner of Domenico Zampieri 19th Century

This is a fabulous oil painting dating from the early 19th Century depicting Ganymede and Zeus as an eagle. According to Greek Mythology Ganymedes (Ganymede) was a handsome Trojan prince who was carried off to heaven by Zeus in the shape of an eagle where he was appointed as cup-bearer of the gods. Ganymedes was also placed amongst the stars as the constellation Aquarius, his ambrosial mixing cup as Crater, and the eagle as Aquila. Ganymedes was often portrayed as the god of homosexual love and as such appears as a playmate of the love-gods Eros (Love) and Hymenaeus (Marital Love). The painting is very much in the manner of Domenico Zampieri, Italian (1581-1641). It has at some point been fully restored, relined and cleaned and as such it is in excellent condition. It has a deep gilt frame which suits it well and is therefore ready to hang.