Prometheus Unbound

A masterpiece comes to light once again, now accessible to blind and low-vision audiences.

The Piraeus Bank Group Cultural Foundation, in cooperation with the Directorate of Modern Cultural Heritage and the Directorate of Conservation of Ancient and Modern Monuments at the Ministry of Culture, inaugurates the exhibition “Prometheus Unbound in Chios” on Friday 4 July 2025 at 19:30 in the Chios Mastic Museum.

A Romantic-period painting titled "Prometheus Unbound" by Danish artist Carl Bloch, depicting the liberation of Prometheus by Hercules and the fall of the eagle that day after day devoured the Titan’s liver. For an extensive description and tactile rendering of the artwork, visit the Chios Mastic Museum!

The monumental painting by Danish artist Carl Bloch, depicting the Titan Prometheus released from his bondage with the help of Hercules, travels beyond Athens to Chios as its sole destination before it is permanently exhibited in the Mansion at the Tatoi Estate.

This is an allegorical work from the Romantic period, characterized by its haunting composition and dramatic contrasts of light and shadow (chiaroscuro). Bloch renders the climactic moment of liberation and redemption with raw dramatic force.

Accessibility Services by liminal

At the Chios Mastic Museum exhibition, this painting will for the first time be accessible to blind and low-vision visitors through a multisensory approach. For this special exhibition, we’ve made the content accessible via:

  • Creation of a tactile rendition of the artwork by visual artist Danae Sakellari (AMAKA NGO).
  • Audio description of the artwork in Greek and English, integrating aspects of both the tactile adaptation and original painting to work in complement with both
  • Presentation of the exhibition texts in accessible format and, finally,
  • Exhibition information booklets in Braille

Visually impaired individuals participated in quality control at all stages, playing a decisive role in shaping the final result.

Accessibility Credits

Accessibility Services: liminal
Tactile Artwork Adaptation: Danae Sakellari (AMAKA NGO)
Audio Description & Greek Narration: Maria Thrasyvoulidi
Translation: Anna Dimkou
English Narration: Eleni Skopi
Quality Control: Eva Gritzali, Anna-Maria Foskolou
Exhibition Text Accessibility & Project Supervision: Maria Thrasyvoulidi

Prometheus Unbound: a masterpiece with an eventful history

The work, commissioned by the young King Georgios I on the occasion of his accession to the throne in 1863, was created in 1864 in Rome and was brought to Greece in order to decorate the staircase of the old palace (today it houses the Hellenic Parliament). It is considered one of the most impressive paintings created for Greece in the 19th century. Its great appeal to the public of its time established Bloch’s reputation as a major Danish painter.

This is a masterpiece with an eventful history, as it was impossible to find for many decades, leading many to believe that it had been lost. However, in 2012, the artwork was discovered during works in Tatoi by the Directorate of Conservation of Ancient and Modern Monuments of the Ministry of Culture. Ten years later, it was designated a cultural heritage monument and was presented in a retrospective exhibition at the National Gallery of Denmark (2023) and to the Greek public at the Paul and Alexandra Canellopoulos Museum (2024).

On a deep red background, the PBGCF invitation to the opening of the exhibition "Prometheus Unbound in Chios" at the Chios Mastic Museum on July 4th at 19:30. The invitation features graphic design elements with chains.

Making its final stop at the Chios Mastic Museum before its permanent return to the Tatoi Estate Mansion, this significant work is being exhibited by the Piraeus Bank Group Cultural Foundation – known for its sustained cultural activities across Greece – in a special temporary exhibition at the Museum, giving us the opportunity to reflect on the symbolism of 19th century art and seek new approaches to it today. 

In the context of the temporary exhibition “Prometheus Unbound in Chios”, the Piraeus Bank Group Cultural Foundation is organizing a programme of parallel activities, aiming to give various audiences the opportunity to discover the myth of Prometheus and approach it with imagination and creativity, through original artistic activities.

Useful information

“Prometheus Unbound in Chios” – Accessible exhibition to blind or low vision audiences with accessibility services by liminal
Duration of the exhibition: 5 July-31 October 2025
Opening hours: Daily, except Tuesday, 10:00-18:00
Closed: 15 August

Chios Mastic Museum
Pyrgi, Rachi site (Tepeki), 821 02 Chios
Τ.: 22710 72212 | www.piop.gr