The Muse Erato at her Lyre 1895

John William Godward painted "The Muse Erato at her Lyre," evoking a romantic vision of antiquity, though without a precise date, we can assume it to be from the late 19th, early 20th century. This image encapsulates the Victorian fascination with classical beauty, presenting the Greek muse of lyric poetry in a moment of serene artistic creation. Godward's aesthetic choices, from the marble textures to the idealized form of Erato, reflect a specific cultural yearning. In a rapidly industrializing England, there was a longing for the perceived harmony and order of the ancient world. The tiger skin adds an exotic element to the composition, referencing the imperial reach of the British Empire. This painting speaks less of ancient Greece and more of its own time, a period marked by a complex relationship with history and power. To understand "The Muse Erato," we can delve into the art criticism and exhibition records of the era, allowing us to uncover the social values embedded in its classical facade.