Angels on the subway: Classic paintings reimagined into urban settings | CNN

CNN values your feedback

1. How relevant is this ad to you?
2. Did you encounter any technical issues?
Thank You!
Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much appreciated.
Close
Ad Feedback
Destinations
Food & Drink
News
Stay
Video
More
Destinations Food & Drink News Stay Video
Watch Listen Live TV
My Account
  • Settings
  • Newsletters
  • Topics you follow
  • Sign out
Your CNN account Sign in to your CNN account

My Account
  • Settings
  • Newsletters
  • Topics you follow
  • Sign out
Your CNN account Sign in to your CNN account

Live TV Listen Watch
Edition
US
International
Arabic
Español
Edition
  • US
  • International
  • Arabic
  • Español

Destinations
Food & Drink
News
Stay
Video

Follow CNN Travel
Download the CNN App

  • World
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia
    • Australia
    • China
    • Europe
    • India
    • Middle East
    • United Kingdom
  • US Politics
    • Elections 2026
    • Trump
    • Facts First
    • CNN Polls
    • Redistricting Tracker
    • Epstein Files
  • Business
    • Tech
    • Media
    • Calculators
    • Videos
  • Markets
    • Pre-markets
    • After-Hours
    • Fear & Greed
    • Investing
  • Health
    • Life, But Better
    • Fitness
    • Food
    • Sleep
    • Mindfulness
    • Relationships
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Celebrity
  • Tech
    • Innovate
  • Style
    • Arts
    • Design
    • Fashion
    • Architecture
    • Luxury
    • Beauty
    • Video
  • Travel
    • Destinations
    • Food & Drink
    • Stay
    • News
    • Videos
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Motorsport
    • US Sports
    • Olympics
  • Science
    • Space
    • Life
    • Unearthed
  • Climate
    • Solutions
    • Weather
  • Weather
    • Video
    • Climate
  • Ukraine-Russia War
  • Israel-Hamas War
  • Features
    • As Equals
    • Call to Earth
    • Freedom Project
    • Impact Your World
    • Inside Africa
    • CNN Heroes
  • Watch
    • Live TV
    • Featured
    • CNN Fast
    • Shows A-Z
    • CNN 10
    • CNN TV Schedule
  • Listen
    • All There Is with Anderson Cooper
    • Chasing Life with Dr. Sanjay Gupta
    • The Assignment with Audie Cornish
    • Terms of Service with Clare Duffy
    • CNN 5 Things
    • All CNN Podcasts
  • Games
    • Daily Crossword
    • Jumble Crossword
    • Photo Shuffle
    • Sudoblock
    • Sudoku
    • 5 Things Quiz
  • About CNN
    • Photos
    • Investigations
    • CNN Profiles
    • CNN Leadership
    • CNN Newsletters
    • Work for CNN

Download the CNN App
Travel

Angels on the subway: Classic paintings reimagined into urban settings

By Thomas Page, for CNN
Published 5:09 AM EDT, Wed June 10, 2015
Link Copied!
How would classical figures fare in the urban jungle? Ukrainian artist <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Falexey.kondakov.48" target="_blank" target="_blank">Alexey Kondakov</a> explores the idea in his series 'The Daily Lives of Gods'. <br /><br />Photoshopping characters from mythology and antiquity into the modern day city, he argues that by inviting these characters to "visit" our reality, we reveal a common humanity that binds us all - one that transcends the ages. <br /><br />Here, Kondakov takes "The Song of the Angels" (1881) by French painter William-Adolphe Bouguereau and transports the Virgin Mary and child to a subway carriage, harangued by heavenly buskers.
The Song of the Angels —
How would classical figures fare in the urban jungle? Ukrainian artist Alexey Kondakov explores the idea in his series 'The Daily Lives of Gods'.

Photoshopping characters from mythology and antiquity into the modern day city, he argues that by inviting these characters to "visit" our reality, we reveal a common humanity that binds us all - one that transcends the ages.

Here, Kondakov takes "The Song of the Angels" (1881) by French painter William-Adolphe Bouguereau and transports the Virgin Mary and child to a subway carriage, harangued by heavenly buskers.
Alexey Kondakov
Kondakov's inspiration came from an unlikely source: a Tumblr photograph of a group of people out drinking. Their composition, somewhat like a classical painting, struck a chord with the artist, realizing that despite the centuries that had lapsed since such artworks were created, social gatherings have remained much the same. <br /><br />A pastiche of "Venus and Adonis"(1565-69) by Lucas Cambiaso, transformed into late night revelers, rendering bathetic a tragic moment from Ovid's "Metamorphosis".
Venus and Adonis —
Kondakov's inspiration came from an unlikely source: a Tumblr photograph of a group of people out drinking. Their composition, somewhat like a classical painting, struck a chord with the artist, realizing that despite the centuries that had lapsed since such artworks were created, social gatherings have remained much the same.

A pastiche of "Venus and Adonis"(1565-69) by Lucas Cambiaso, transformed into late night revelers, rendering bathetic a tragic moment from Ovid's "Metamorphosis".
Alexey Kondakov
Through the power of Photoshop, Kondakov, based in Kiev, invites these figures into our reality to pay us a visit and show what, if anything, has changed.<br /><br />Caesar Van Everdingen's "Bacchus on the Throne" (1658/1670) shows the god of harvest and fertility seemingly exasperated by winter in Kiev.
Bacchus on the Throne —
Through the power of Photoshop, Kondakov, based in Kiev, invites these figures into our reality to pay us a visit and show what, if anything, has changed.

Caesar Van Everdingen's "Bacchus on the Throne" (1658/1670) shows the god of harvest and fertility seemingly exasperated by winter in Kiev.
Alexey Kondakov
Here Caravaggio's "David and Goliath" (1610) is inserted into a shady corner, reimagining the young hero as an urban vigilante.
David and Goliath —
Here Caravaggio's "David and Goliath" (1610) is inserted into a shady corner, reimagining the young hero as an urban vigilante.
Alexey Kondakov
Another Bouguereau, this time "Nymphs and Satyr" (1873), displaying a riotous scene at the back of a tram.
Nymphs and Satyr —
Another Bouguereau, this time "Nymphs and Satyr" (1873), displaying a riotous scene at the back of a tram.
Alexey Kondakov
"Apollon" (c. 17th century) by Nicolas Regnier, the god of music, now a lonely busker on the commuter route.
Apollon —
"Apollon" (c. 17th century) by Nicolas Regnier, the god of music, now a lonely busker on the commuter route.
Alexey Kondakov
Italian Romantic Francesco Hayez portrays a couple from the Middle Ages in "The Kiss" (1859), the intense moment catapulted from courtly surrounds into a midnight train carriage by Kondakov.
The Kiss —
Italian Romantic Francesco Hayez portrays a couple from the Middle Ages in "The Kiss" (1859), the intense moment catapulted from courtly surrounds into a midnight train carriage by Kondakov.
Alexey Kondakov
Florentine painter Francesco Furini's "Penitent Mary Magdalene" (1635-45) ruminates in a shop front.
Penitent Mary Magdalene —
Florentine painter Francesco Furini's "Penitent Mary Magdalene" (1635-45) ruminates in a shop front.
Alexey Kondakov
Kodakov takes the party from "The Youth of Bacchus" (1884) by Bouguereau to the underpass.
The Youth of Bacchus —
Kodakov takes the party from "The Youth of Bacchus" (1884) by Bouguereau to the underpass.
Alexey Kondakov
Bouguereau's "The Heart's Awakening" (1892), capturing love's first pang in a quiet corner of Kiev.<br />
The Heart's Awakening —
Bouguereau's "The Heart's Awakening" (1892), capturing love's first pang in a quiet corner of Kiev.
Alexey Kondakov
"The Ambassadors" (1553) by Hans Holbein the Younger find a new role as downtown barflies.
The Ambassadors —
"The Ambassadors" (1553) by Hans Holbein the Younger find a new role as downtown barflies.
Alexey Kondakov
A lone nymph in "The Prisoner" (1891) by Bouguereau rides a bus, holding the gaze of someone outside the canvas.
The Prisoner —
A lone nymph in "The Prisoner" (1891) by Bouguereau rides a bus, holding the gaze of someone outside the canvas.
Alexey Kondakov
Finally, in yet another take on the <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2015%2F05%2F01%2Ftech%2Fhow-old-do-you-look-website%2F">viral Miicrosoft website</a> that can guess your age from a photograph, Kondakov reimagines Michelangelo's "Creation of Adam."
The Creation of Adam —
Finally, in yet another take on the viral Miicrosoft website that can guess your age from a photograph, Kondakov reimagines Michelangelo's "Creation of Adam."
courtesy alexey kondakov

My Account
  • Settings
  • Newsletters
  • Topics you follow
  • Sign out
Your CNN account Sign in to your CNN account

Live TV Listen Watch
  • World
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia
    • Australia
    • China
    • Europe
    • India
    • Middle East
    • United Kingdom
  • US Politics
    • Trump
    • Facts First
    • CNN Polls
    • Elections 2026
    • Redistricting Tracker
    • Epstein Files
  • Business
    • Tech
    • Media
    • Calculators
    • Videos
  • Markets
    • Pre-markets
    • After-Hours
    • Fear & Greed
    • Investing
  • Health
    • Life, But Better
    • Fitness
    • Food
    • Sleep
    • Mindfulness
    • Relationships
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Celebrity
  • Tech
    • Innovate
  • Style
    • Arts
    • Design
    • Fashion
    • Architecture
    • Luxury
    • Beauty
    • Video
  • Travel
    • Destinations
    • Food & Drink
    • Stay
    • News
    • Videos
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Motorsport
    • US Sports
    • Olympics
  • Science
    • Space
    • Life
    • Unearthed
  • Climate
    • Solutions
    • Weather
  • Weather
    • Video
    • Climate
  • Ukraine-Russia War
  • Israel-Hamas War
  • Features
    • As Equals
    • Call to Earth
    • Freedom Project
    • Impact Your World
    • Inside Africa
    • CNN Heroes
  • Watch
    • Live TV
    • Featured
    • CNN Headlines
    • Shows A-Z
    • CNN 10
    • CNN TV Schedule
  • Listen
    • All There Is with Anderson Cooper
    • Chasing Life with Dr. Sanjay Gupta
    • The Assignment with Audie Cornish
    • Terms of Service with Clare Duffy
    • CNN 5 Things
    • All CNN Podcasts
  • Games
    • Daily Crossword
    • Jumble Crossword
    • Photo Shuffle
    • Sudoblock
    • Sudoku
    • 5 Things Quiz
  • About CNN
    • Photos
    • Investigations
    • CNN Profiles
    • CNN Leadership
    • CNN Newsletters
    • Work for CNN

Watch Listen Live TV
My Account
  • Settings
  • Newsletters
  • Topics you follow
  • Sign out
Your CNN account Sign in to your CNN account
Follow CNN Travel

Download the CNN app
Download the CNN app

Terms of Use Privacy Policy Ad Choices Accessibility & CC About Newsletters Transcripts Sitemap

© 2026 Cable News Network. A Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All Rights Reserved.
CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network.

Download the CNN app

Scan the QR code to download the CNN app on Google Play.

Scan the QR code to download the CNN app from Google Play.

Download the CNN app

Scan the QR code to download the CNN app from the Apple Store.

Scan the QR code to download the CNN app from the Apple Store.