The Triumph of Apollo c. 1893

Adolf Hirémy-Hirschl made this drawing called "The Triumph of Apollo" using graphite and white gouache on paper. This image reflects a late 19th century revival of classicism, but with a modern twist. Born in Austria, Hirémy-Hirschl lived in a time of great social change and upheaval. The drawing shows Apollo, the god of light and reason, in a triumphal scene. But look closer and you'll notice an odd mix of allegorical figures and unsettling imagery of dark birds and shadowy figures. Made in the academic style, this piece invites us to consider the role of art institutions in shaping the period's aesthetic preferences. Were there anxieties about what was coming in the 20th century and what role would rational thought play? The journals, letters, and exhibition reviews of the time are useful resources for scholars, helping us to reconstruct the cultural context in which this drawing first appeared.