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| Abraham Bloemaert Apollo and Diana slaying the Children of Niobe 1591 oil on canvas Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen |
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| Crescenzio Onofri Destruction of Niobe's Children before 1698 oil on canvas Dulwich Picture Gallery, London |
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| Domenico Maria Canuti Diana and Apollo slaying the Children of Niobe ca. 1650-80 drawing Teylers Museum, Haarlem |
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| Geoffrey James Sculpture Group of Niobe and her Children at the Villa Medici, Rome (replicas of the original group of antique statues, now at Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence) 1984 gelatin silver print National Gallery of Canada |
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| Giacomo Brogi Antique Statue of Niobe from Niobe Group, Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence ca. 1860-80 albumen silver print Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam |
ON A STATUE OF NIOBE
This is the daughter of Tantalus, who of old bore from a single womb twice seven children, victims of Phoebus and Artemis: for the Maiden sent untimely death to the maidens, the male god to the boys, the two slaying two companies of seven. She, once the mother of such a flock, the mother of lovely children, was not left with one to tend her age. The mother was not, as was meet, buried by her children, but the children all were carried by their mother to the sorrowful tomb. Tantalus, thy tongue was fatal to thee and to thy daughter; she became a rock, and over thee hangs a stone to terrify thee.
– Antipater (of Thessalonica?)
ON THE SAME
Niobe, daughter of Tantalus, hearken to my word, the announcer of woe: receive the most mournful tale of thy sorrows. Loose the fillet of thy hair! thy male children, alas! thou didst bear but to fall by the woe-working arrows of Phoebus. Thy boys are no more. But what is this other thing? What do I see? Alack! alack! the flood of blood has overtaken the maidens. One clasps her mother's knees, one rests on her lap, one on the ground, and the head of one has fallen on her breast. Another is smitten with terror at the shaft flying straight to her, and one stoops before the arrows, while the rest still live and see light. And the mother, who erst took pleasure in her tongue's chatter, now for horror stands like a rock built of flesh.
– Meleager (1st century BC)
Epigrams from Book 16 of the Greek Anthology, translated by W.R. Paton (1916-18)
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| Anonymous Italian Sculptor Copy of Antique Statue of Fleeing Son from Niobe Group ca. 1750 terracotta statuette Hermitage, Saint Petersburg |
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| François Perrier Antique Statue of Dying Son from Niobe Group 1638 etching Philadelphia Museum of Art |
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| Anonymous Italian Printmaker Antique Sculpture Fragments traditionally identified as Dying Sons of Niobe 17th century etching and engraving Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam |
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| Jan de Bisschop Antique Statue of Fleeing Son from Niobe Group ca. 1672-89 etching British Museum |
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| Jan de Bisschop Antique Statue of Dying Son from Niobe Group ca. 1672-89 etching British Museum |
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| Jan de Bisschop Antique Statue of Fleeing Daughter from Niobe Group ca. 1672-89 etching British Museum |
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| William Hilton Head of Niobe Statue from Niobe Group ca. 1801-1839 drawing British Museum |
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| Annibale Carracci Head of Niobe Statue from Niobe Group before 1605 drawing Royal Collection, Great Britain |
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| Henry Howard Antique Bust of Niobe before 1847 drawing British Museum |
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| Giovanni Pichler Niobe before 1791 sardonyx cameo British Museum |