Calypso calling heaven and earth to witness her sincere affection to Ulysses

This painting of Calypso calling heaven and earth to witness her affection for Ulysses from around 1774 treats a Homeric subject with the emotional sensibility Kauffmann brought to classical mythology. The nymph Calypso's unrequited love for the homeward-bound Odysseus embodied the cult of sensibility. Characteristic of the artist's mature approach, the work displays graceful, decorative Neoclassicism combining classical subject matter with a lyrical sweetness, soft color, elegant figure types, pendant portraits and mythological scenes.

The mythological scene is rendered with Kauffmann's characteristic soft palette and elegant figure composition, prioritizing emotional expression over dramatic action.