Iris Approaching Athena and Hera by Attributed to Louis-Jean-François Lagrenée

Iris Approaching Athena and Hera c. 1780

attributedtolouisjeanfrancoislagrenee

minneapolisinstituteofart

drawing

charcoal drawing

possibly oil pastel

charcoal art

oil painting

acrylic on canvas

underpainting

france

animal drawing portrait

portrait drawing

charcoal

watercolor

This sepia-toned drawing, "Iris Approaching Athena and Hera," was created by Louis-Jean-François Lagrenée around 1780. The drawing features a chariot being pulled by a winged horse, with the goddess Iris reaching out to guide the chariot toward the goddesses Athena and Hera who are seated within. This drawing, now housed in the Minneapolis Institute of Art, demonstrates Lagrenée's mastery of composition and the use of light and shadow, showcasing his skill in conveying the drama of the scene.

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minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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Greek myth was popular among French Neoclassical painters, particularly obscure scenes like this one, which allowed the artist to invent an entirely new image This drawing represents a scene from Homer's Iliad, when the messenger goddess Iris was sent by Zeus to warn Athena and Hera not to help the Greeks in the war against Troy. Following their loss to Aphrodite in the beauty contest judged by Paris of Troy, Athena and Hera sided against the Trojans in the war. The artist depicted Hera, with her attribute of the peacock, and Athena, dressed in her armor, coming upon Iris just as they are rushing off to the battlefield. This drawing may be one of several Iliad scenes drawn by Louis Lagrenée for Louis XVI. Its high degree of finish and monumental size suggest that it was a presentation drawing; so perhaps Lagrenée invented a number of possible compositions for the king to select one from and be developed into a painting.