The Sacrifice of Iphigenia 1659 - 1717

"The Sacrifice of Iphigenia" by Jean-Baptiste Jouvenet, painted between 1659 and 1717, depicts the tragic myth of Iphigenia, a young woman sacrificed by her father, Agamemnon, to appease the goddess Artemis. The painting features dramatic Baroque composition, with figures arranged in a dynamic triangular formation. Jouvenet's signature style, characterized by a blend of classical and emotive elements, is evident in the depiction of Iphigenia's resignation and the surrounding figures' expressions of grief and anguish. The artwork, now housed in the SMK - Statens Museum for Kunst, is a powerful testament to the human cost of sacrifice and the enduring power of ancient Greek mythology.