Thank you for your comparison of Moreau's Jupiter and Semele, and Kiki Smith’s Sky. Although the overall metaphor of the Moreau's painting is possible to interpret as superiority of the unknown and transcendent or nature over human being, it is overwhelmed with puzzling subordinate elements. The plethora of the surrounding flora signify life. The snake biting her tail under the foot of Jupiter is symbol for the self-destruction and rebirth – the eternal cycle of life. The presence of Pan under the throne as well as other characters is hard to justify without knowledge of the Greek mythology. Besides, what characters with Christian nimbi doing in the pagan setting? On the other hand, The Sky is does not carry mythological specifics and opened
