| Ulysses and the Sirens | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Artist | John William Waterhouse |
| Year | 1891 |
| Medium | oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 100.6 cm × 202.0 cm (39.6 in × 79.5 in) |
| Location | National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, Australia |
Ulysses and the Sirens is an 1891 painting by the Pre-Raphaelite artist John William Waterhouse. It is currently held in the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, Australia.
Description
The work depicts a scene from the ancient Greek epic the Odyssey, in which the Sirens attempt to use their enchanting song to lure the titular hero Odysseus and his crew towards deadly waters. As per the Odyssey, Odysseus' crew had already blocked their ears to protect themselves from the Sirens' singing, but Odysseus, wanting to hear the Sirens, had ordered his crew to tie him to the mast so that he may have the pleasure of listening without risking himself or his ship.
The most controversial aspect of Waterhouse's painting was his depiction of the Sirens, as it differed greatly from contemporary Victorian era conceptions. While many of the original audience had expected to see the Sirens as mermaid-like nymphs, they were surprised to find them as bird-like creatures with women's heads. However, at the time of initial exhibition, The Magazine of Art critic Marion H. Spielmann noted that the idea of half-bird, half-woman Sirens is supported by depictions of Sirens similar to Waterhouse's on classical Greek vases.
Exhibition
The painting was first exhibited in 1891 at the Royal Academy, London to critical acclaim for the imaginative and romantic representation of its subject. In June of that year, Sir Hubert von Herkomer purchased the work for the National Gallery of Victoria, and it has since remained in the museum's collection.
See also
References
- ^ "Ulysses and the Sirens". NGV. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
- Homer. "The Odyssey, Book XII". Translated by Samuel Butler. The Internet Classics Archive. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
- ^ Bonollo, Michelle (4 June 2014). "J. W. Waterhouse's Ulysses and the Sirens: breaking tradition and revealing fears". NGV. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
External links
- "Ulysses and the Sirens". Google Arts & Culture.
| John William Waterhouse | ||
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