In mythology, Aurora is the dawn. She rises early in the morning and rides her chariot through the skies to announce the sunrise. She falls in love with Cephalus, which causes her to abandon her duties and bring disorder to the universe. Cupid resolves the situation by shooting one of his arrows into Cephalus so he can reciprocate Aurora's love for him. Both Guido Reni (1613; Rome, Casino Rospigliosi) and Guercino (1621; Rome, Casino Ludovisi) depicted Aurora crossing the firmament. Reni's shows her heading Apollo's chariot, with the Hours surrounding him. Guercino placed her in her own chariot with Day and Night at either side. Agostino Carracci is thought to have been the one to depict Cephalus and Aurora on the Farnese ceiling, Rome (c. 1598-1600), a subject also tackled by Poussin in 1631-1633 (London; National Gallery) and Peter Paul Rubens sometime in the 1630s (lost).
Historical dictionary of Renaissance art. Lilian H. Zirpolo. 2008.