Narcissus is referred as 'the inventor of painting' by Alberti. I believe Alberti mentions two main points that are similar between the tale of Narcissus and painting: embracing and reflection.
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| Narcissus (1597-99) |
Although there are a few versions of the Narcissus myth, they all end up pretty much the same way. Narcissus, the son of River God Cephisus and nymph Lyriope, has exceptional beauty. One day he sees his reflection in the water and supersized by his own beauty, is stuck by the water.
A reflection of his own extraordinary beauty captures Narcissus similarly a painting reflecting what is in nature, captures us and we embrace it.
I also think it is a subject that can be interpreted in different ways but the myth has it as a punishment for Narcissus kind of like the way we generally perceive the meaning of narcissism.
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