Jupiter restraining Arcas from shooting at the bear Callisto

Louis Chéron, c. 1695
Oil on plaster, ceiling of the Fourth State Room
6.54 x 6.41 m

The subject, taken from Ovid's Metamorphoses, book II, shows Jupiter transforming Arcas and Callisto into constellations and setting them in the night sky, which is represented by the Signs of the Zodiac, including Sagittarius (the archer, with Jupiter disguised as a bull), Gemini (the twins) one ingeniously placing Callisto's constellation in the heavens, Cancer (the crab), Virgo (the virgin) and Libra (the balance). The Four Elements, which appear at the corners, also represent other signs of the Zodiac. Thus Water is symbolized by Aquarius (the waterbearer) and Pisces (the fishes); the Earth by Leo (the lion); the Air by a bird in flight; and Fire is represented by a figure who holds Vulcan's tools and a salamander. Sagittarius does not appear in the preparatory sketch (Croft Murray and Hulton, 1960 5 (3)) and the position of Virgo is changed on the ceiling.

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