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Penelope Mourning over the Bow of Odysseus
Angelica Kauffmann·c. 1774
Historical Context
This painting of Penelope mourning over the bow of Odysseus from around 1774 treats a Homeric subject with the emotional focus that characterized Kauffmann's approach to classical mythology. The faithful Penelope, weeping over her absent husband's weapon, embodied the virtue of female constancy. Kauffmann's refined oil handling favored cool, clear colors and gracefully elongated figures that drew on classical sculpture and Raphael's serene compositions, executed with a smooth, controlled...
Technical Analysis
The composition demonstrates Kauffmann's ability to convey deep emotion through restrained gesture and expression, using the bow as a symbolic focal point for Penelope's grief.
See It In Person
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Edward Smith Stanley (1752–1834), Twelfth Earl of Derby, Elizabeth, Countess of Derby (Lady Elizabeth Hamilton, 1753–1797), and Their Son (Edward Smith Stanley, 1775–1851)
Angelica Kauffmann·ca. 1776
