Illustration to Odyssey 1793

John Flaxman's 1793 "Illustration to Odyssey" depicts a scene from Homer's epic poem, showing Odysseus, the protagonist, drawing his bow and arrow as he stands over a slain suitor. This scene captures the dramatic moment when Odysseus finally takes revenge on the suitors who had seized his home and attempted to marry his wife Penelope. The composition highlights the tension and power of the moment, with Odysseus’s resolute pose contrasting with the fear of the defeated suitors. The use of line and shadow is characteristic of Flaxman’s style, which evokes the atmosphere of ancient Greek art while remaining distinctly modern.