Calypso Watches Telemachus with Cupid on His Knee, While Mentor Watches in Anger, from The Adventures of Telemachus, Book 7 1808

Bartolomeo Pinelli's "Calypso Watches Telemachus with Cupid on His Knee, While Mentor Watches in Anger, from The Adventures of Telemachus, Book 7" (1808) is a captivating illustration from a series of drawings based on the story of Telemachus, son of Odysseus, in Fénelon’s "The Adventures of Telemachus." The artist expertly captures the dramatic scene, showcasing Calypso, the nymph who holds Telemachus captive, watching as the young man is tempted by Cupid, while Mentor, his wise advisor, reacts with fury in the background. The artwork, currently housed at The Art Institute of Chicago, utilizes a pen-and-ink technique with washes of gray to create a detailed and expressive rendering of the mythological figures.