The Callisto Convex Mirror

In All, Mirrors by Mark Evans

Callisto Convex Mirror

Callisto Side

The Callisto convex mirror is one of the largest I’ve done( 24 inches in diameter).  It seems bigger to be due to the outward burst of the carved sunburst and the layers of silvery Venetian glass rods.  I’ve embellished this mirror with cabochons in four sizes.  These cabochons are backed with silvering giving the frame an increased depth and richness.

The Callisto convex mirror is currently hanging in my studio.  I may be transferred to one of my showrooms, but I like it so much that I’ll hang onto it for a bit….

The Callisto convex mirror is inspired by one of the most beautiful moons orbiting Jupiter.  Callisto is the second largest moon and was discovered by Galileo Galilei in 1610.  It has a thin icy atmosphere and may have a vast ocean under the surface. callisto

Of course, may of the names I give my artwork have more than one story or inspiration.  Thanks to Wikipedia for the following:

As a follower of Artemis, Callisto, who Hesiod said was the daughter of Lycaon, king of Arcadia, took a vow to remain a virgin, as did all the nymphs of Artemis. But to have sex with her Zeus disguised himself as Artemis ( Diana) herself, in order to lure her into his embrace. Callisto was then turned into a bear, as Hesiod had told it:

…but afterwards, when she was already with child, was seen bathing and so discovered. Upon this, the goddess was enraged and changed her into a beast. Thus she became a bear and gave birth to a son called Arcas.

According to Ovid, it was Zeus who took the form of Diana (Artemis) so that he might evade his wife Juno’s detection, forcing himself upon Callisto while she was separated from Diana and the other nymphs. Callisto’s subsequent pregnancy was discovered several months later while she was bathing with Diana and her fellow nymphs. Diana became enraged when she saw that Callisto was pregnant and expelled her from the group. Callisto later gave birth to Arcas. Juno then took the opportunity to avenge her wounded pride and transformed the nymph into a bear. Sixteen years later Callisto, still a bear, encountered her son Arcas hunting in the forest. Just as Arcas was about to kill his own mother with his javelin, Jupiter averted the tragedy by placing mother and son amongst the stars as Ursa Major and Minor, respectively. Juno, enraged that her attempt at revenge had been frustrated, appealed to the god Oceanus that the two might never meet his waters, thus providing a poetic explanation for their circumpolar positions.

TitianDianaCallistoEdinburgh