Sappho 1862

arnoldbocklin

possibly oil pastel

oil painting

portrait reference

portrait head and shoulder

underpainting

mythology

portrait drawing

portrait art

fine art portrait

celebrity portrait

digital portrait

Arnold Böcklin's 1862 painting, "Sappho," depicts the ancient Greek poetess holding a scroll, a symbol of her literary legacy. The soft, romantic style of the painting and the melancholic expression on Sappho's face convey the tragic nature of her love story. The work reflects the popularity of historical and mythological subjects in 19th-century European art and continues to be an iconic image of the renowned poet.