Phaedre, Having Declared Her Passion, Attempts to Kill Herself with the Sword of Hippolytus c. 1801

"Phaedre, Having Declared Her Passion, Attempts to Kill Herself with the Sword of Hippolytus" is a c. 1801 work by French artist Anne-Louis Girodet, known for his Neoclassical style. The artwork depicts a dramatic scene from the Greek myth of Phaedra, who falls in love with her stepson Hippolytus, and, when rejected, attempts to take her own life. The composition emphasizes the emotional turmoil of the scene, with Phaedra collapsing as Hippolytus attempts to take the sword away, creating a sense of tragedy and desperation. The setting is likely meant to evoke ancient Greece, contributing to the mythological context. Girodet’s use of line and shadow, characteristic of Neoclassical art, enhances the dramatic tension of this tragic scene.