This piece is based on the myth of Echo and Narcissus. I thought of the initial idea for the Month of Love challenge several years ago, and always wanted to revisit it with traditional media.

The Ringling Museum’s Archives and Art Library contain research collections focusing on John Ringling, the art, institutional records, and the circus.

Explore the captivating world of Narcissus, the delicate and enchanting flower with a rich history of mythology and symbolism. From its association with the Greek myth of Narcissus to its magical correspondences in modern spiritual practices, this flower has captured the imaginations of people for centuries. In this article, we delve into the folklore and growing tips of this beautiful flower and uncover its transformative properties. Join us on a journey to the heart of Narcissus!

Narcissus by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, circa 1597-1599 The Story of Narcissus “The story of Narcissus in Greek mythology begins with the story of Echo. Echo was a beautiful ny…

Narcissus

John William Waterhouse,Echo and Narcissus (detail) 1903

The earliest works on the Greek Narcissus myth go back more than 2000 years. Who were those early poets and how did their versions differ?

An artist's depiction of Narcissus falling for his own reflection in Greek myth.

Manipulated version of “Narcissus” by Caravaggio. The pool as a mirror of insight, introspection and self-knowledge. The world as a mirror. And art as a mirror of the world. “I used to tell my friends that the inventor of painting, according to the poets, was Narcissus, who was turned to a flower; for, as painting is the flower of all the arts, so the tale of Narcissus fits our purpose perfectly. What is painting but the act of embracing by means of art the surface of the pool?” Leon…