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 studied from 1986 to 1989 in the department of architecture at the Technical University of Lisbon. He graduated with a Degree in Painting from the Faculty of Fine Arts of Lisbon University. In 1995, Possollo accepted an invitation to become a faculty member in Lisbon University’s art department.
Possollo has worked with the Portuguese Mail in its production of original images for their commemorative stamp series honoring the 500th anniversary of explorer Vasco da Gama’s arrival in India. He also created paintings commissioned 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 Pelops a chariot of his own drawn by winged horses so Pelops could win the hand of Princess Hippodamia, whom Pelops loved.