Ulysses Following the Car of Nausicaa 1805

Editor: This is John Flaxman's "Ulysses Following the Car of Nausicaa," held at the Tate. It's a delicate line drawing and I’m struck by the restrained emotion. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Flaxman captures the Homeric tale, and, through line, evokes a sense of classical antiquity. Notice how the figures, reminiscent of friezes, are symbols of virtue and ideal form. Editor: It's interesting that the artist used such minimal strokes to convey this narrative. Curator: Indeed, the sparseness invites contemplation, doesn't it? The horse-drawn chariot also becomes a potent symbol of passage and transition in the image. Editor: Thank you, I never thought of the chariot as such. Curator: The visual language of classicism remains so enduring. Editor: I'll remember that when studying other works of art.