Circe and Ulysses 1611 - 1669

Curator: Here we have Filippo Lauri's "Circe and Ulysses," created sometime between 1611 and 1669. The work hangs here at the SMK, the Statens Museum for Kunst. Editor: What a deliciously odd scene! At first glance, it feels like a stage play frozen in time. The muted greens and golds give it an ethereal, almost dreamlike quality, doesn't it? There's definitely something brewing, some kind of transformation at play. Curator: Indeed. The architectural framework provides a proscenium-like space for the drama. Lauri uses oil paint to present this Baroque scene, highlighting the themes of allegory and figuration in the style of the Italian Renaissance. Note how the figures are arranged—it's all very carefully constructed. Editor: Oh, absolutely! I’m drawn to the contrasts. You have the regal poise of Circe offering the potion, and then this strange mix of languid and tortured poses of the men turning into beasts. And that flying figure above Ulysses pouring magic into his goblet – it feels like a commentary on the duality of human nature. Powerful. Curator: Yes, the dramatic lighting guides our eye through the narrative. And consider the material handling – observe the details in Ulysses’s armor compared to the almost caricatured animalistic forms of the bewitched men. Semiotically, the piece teems with encoded allusions to lust, power, and vulnerability. Editor: Right, lust. The subtext feels incredibly potent. There’s definitely an uneasy feeling humming underneath all the classical trappings. This artist seemed to love those little hidden meanings and naughty undertones. Lauri invites us to ask: Who is in control here, and at what cost? Curator: A fitting query to ponder when observing art. Lauri encourages viewers to unpack those questions for themselves. Editor: Absolutely, so here’s to seeing art that stays with you long after you've walked away. It’s as intoxicating as Circe’s brew.