Telemachus and the Nymphs of Calypso is an oil painting by the Swiss artist Angelica Kauffman, from 1782. It is in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, in New York.[1]
| Telemachus and the Nymphs of Calypso | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Artist | Angelica Kauffman |
| Year | 1782 |
| Medium | oil paint |
| Dimensions | 82.6 cm × 112.4 cm (32.5 in × 44.3 in) |
| Location | Metropolitan Museum of Art |
| Accession | 25.110.188 |
| Website | Metropolitan Museum of Art |
Early history and creation
editThis painting and The Sorrow of Telemachus were painted for Monsignor Onorato Caetani (1742-1797). They show scenes from the French novel The Adventures of Telemachus published by François Fénelon in 1699, and based on the story of Telemachus, son of Odysseus.[1][2][3]
Description and interpretation
editThe work depicts the arrival of Telemachus on Ogygia, Calypso's island. He is welcomed by her nymphs with fruit, wine and flowers. The goddess Athena had been his guide, disguised as the old man Mentor, and is shown being led away to the left by the nymphs.[3]
References
edit- ^ a b "Telemachus and the Nymphs of Calypso". Metropolitan Museum of Art. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
- ^ "The Sorrow of Telemachus". Metropolitan Museum of Art. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
- ^ a b Baetjer, Katharine (2009). "Angelika Kauffmann". British Paintings in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1575-1875. Metropolitan Museum of Art. pp. 138–142. ISBN 9781588393487. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
