Sappho and Phaon Contemporary School Oil Painting After Jacques-Louis David 72"

Description

A Monumental contemporary school painting of "Sappho and Phaon" After Jacques-Louis David. The oil is on canvas and framed in gold with French relief.

Phaon was said to be so beautiful that even the Greek poetess Sappho fell in love with him. Count Nikolai Yusupov commissioned it in 1809 for his Moika Palace and is now the only painting by David in the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg.

Sappho is shown sitting in a chair at the foot of a bed in a classically decorated room with columns, a marble floor and a view to a rural landscape outside (with Venus's birds, doves, sitting on the doorstep). Phaon stands behind the chair holding a spear and bow. On her knee is a scroll with some of her verses in praise of Phaon and Cupid kneels in front of her, holding up her lyre, which she tries to play with her right hand whilst leaning her head back to let Phaon cradle her head in his left arm.

Condition

Very Good; Gently Used

Dimensions

71.5" x 4" x 59"; canvas 48" x 60"