The Fisherman And The Syren 1856 - 1858

Frederic Leighton’s “The Fisherman And The Syren” was realized with oil on canvas, a quintessentially academic choice of material. Oil paint allows for a remarkable blending of tones, and a glazing of surfaces, which you can see in the figures’ delicate skin. The story goes that mermaids lure sailors to their deaths with seductive songs. But here the fisherman seems very much on terra firma. The artist has posed the figures in a composition recalling a classical sculpture. Leighton was President of the Royal Academy for many years, and very consciously tried to elevate painting to the status of high art. And yet, there is a kind of craft on display too. The artist is a technician of the highest order, using his brush to create a seamless illusion. Ultimately, Leighton's traditional materials are elevated through the artwork's ability to blend sensuality and classical form, demonstrating the enduring power of skillful execution.