Telemachus Relates His Adventures to the Goddess Calypso, from The Adventures of Telemachus, Book 1 1808

Bartolomeo Pinelli's wash and pen drawing, from around the late 18th or early 19th century, illustrates a scene from the Adventures of Telemachus, a popular French novel that reimagined Homer's Odyssey. Pinelli was an Italian artist working at a time when Rome was once again becoming a popular destination for upper-class tourists eager to absorb classical culture. The book he is illustrating offered readers a digest version of Greek myth, filtered through the lens of Enlightenment morality. Telemachus, son of Ulysses, recounts his adventures to the goddess Calypso, but the scene is also a chance to exhibit ancient dress and manners for the entertainment of contemporary audiences. Pinelli's decision to illustrate this story, and the way he chose to do so, reflects the cultural and educational values of his time. For those of us studying art history, we must treat the work as a product of a specific cultural moment, using books, articles, and historical documents to further inform our understanding.