Still Life Study for ‘Clytie’ c. 1895

Frederic Leighton, a leading figure in the British Aesthetic movement, created this oil study to prepare for his painting, 'Clytie'. Still life as a genre was considered low in the academic hierarchy, yet Leighton’s choice to focus on fruit, which in ancient Greek mythology is symbolically linked with the gods, offers insights into Victorian society's complex relationship with classical antiquity. Leighton sought to elevate the status of the still life, and perhaps make some comment on gender. Consider how the pomegranate, split open to reveal its seeds, alludes to female fertility and sexuality. The fruit in the study is painted with palpable sensuality, underscoring the erotic charge of the Clytie story, where the nymph Clytie is transformed into a sunflower while perpetually gazing at the sun god, Apollo. With its ripe colors and textures, Leighton asks us to reflect on the relationship between classical myths and Victorian ideals of beauty, desire, and transformation.