Carlos Barahona Possollo, “Pelops and Poseidon”, 2012, Oil and Gold Leaf on Wood, 120 x 120 cm, Private Collection
Born in Lisbon in 1967, Carlos Barahona Possollo graduated in painting from the Faculty of Fine Arts of Lisbon University. In 1995 he accepted an invitation to teach at the Faculty. He was at the Technical University of Lisbon from 1986 to 1989 in the architecture department.
Possollo has be working with the Portuguese Mail in the production of original images for the printing of stamps for their commemorative series honoring the 500th anniversary of explorer Vasco da Gama’s arrival in India. He has also done work for the first nine issues of the Portuguese edition of the National Geographic Magazine.
The painting “Pelops and Poseidon” represents the love Poseidon had for Pelops, the son of Tantalus. Poseidon fell in love with Pelops, and taught him to drive a chariot. Poseidon later gave him a chariot drawn by winged horses so Pelops could win the hand of Hippodamia, a princess Pelops loved.