Terpsichore et Kalliope 1791

"Terpsichore et Kalliope" (1791) is an engraving by Danish artist Gerhard Ludvig Lahde (1765-1833) held in the Statens Museum for Kunst. The artwork depicts the Greek muses Terpsichore, muse of dance, playing a lute and Kalliope, muse of epic poetry, writing. The engraving is a study of the two muses in a classical setting, with both figures appearing nude and draped in light fabrics. The detail in the background suggests the muses are in a garden setting as leaves and trees are visible behind them. This artwork is an excellent example of neoclassical art, a movement popular in the late 18th and early 19th centuries that drew inspiration from classical antiquity.