Two Muses (Erato and Melpomene) c. 1500 - 1505
filippinolippi
unusual home photography
abstract painting
possibly oil pastel
handmade artwork painting
oil painting
acrylic on canvas
underpainting
painting painterly
watercolour illustration
italy
watercolor
Filippino Lippi's "Two Muses (Erato and Melpomene)" is a small-scale painting on panel depicting the Greek muses Erato and Melpomene, the muses of love poetry and tragedy, respectively. Created around 1500-1505, the painting showcases Lippi's refined style, characterized by delicate details and vibrant colors. Erato is shown playing a lyre while Melpomene rests her hand on a sword, symbolizing the different artistic expressions each muse represents. The artwork is currently housed in the Minneapolis Institute of Art and serves as a testament to Lippi's mastery of Renaissance art.
Comments
In Greek mythology, the Muses were the nine goddesses of creative inspiration in the arts, each having her own sphere of influence. One may be Thalia, the Muse of comedy and pastoral poetry, usually shown with a mask and a musical instrument, while the other is likely Melpomene, the Muse of Tragedy, typically shown with a mask and small horn. Thalia plays a lyre placed on a small altar dedicated to Deo. Max., possibly the sun god, Apollo. This composition is based on a fresco in the Strozzi Chapel in the church of Santa Maria Novella, painted between 1493/94 and 1502 by Filippino Lippi, a leading Florentine painter. It has been attributed to an unknown member of Filippino's workshop, who is called "Master of Memphis," named for another important work attributed to him, "Saint Francis in Glory" now in Memphis (Brooks Museum). We are grateful to Jonathan Nelson for clarifying the attribution and date of this work.
Join the conversation
Join millions of artists and users on Artera today and experience the ultimate creative platform.
CollectMore like this
