Ulysses Asleep Laid on his Own Coast by the Phaeacian Sailors 1805

Curator: This is John Flaxman's "Ulysses Asleep Laid on his Own Coast by the Phaeacian Sailors," now part of the Tate Collection. It's an engraving, capturing a poignant moment from Homer. Editor: My first thought? It's so delicate, almost dreamlike. The minimal lines create this sense of lightness, of floating in a memory. It's terribly gentle. Curator: Absolutely. Flaxman was deeply inspired by classical Greek art. The simple lines echo the form of ancient vase paintings, bringing that feeling of timelessness. Editor: And Ulysses, poor man. Even asleep, there's a sense of vulnerability in the way he's being handled, like a precious object, or a burden perhaps? The sailors are like graceful attendants. Curator: Indeed. It's about homecoming and the bittersweet relief found in finally being laid to rest, even after such a tumultuous journey. Editor: It makes me want to lie down myself, somewhere peaceful. Flaxman's captured a feeling more than a scene, I think.