Description
The Greek goddess Calypso held the hero Odysseus captive for seven years, preventing his return home from the Trojan War. Despite Calypso’s charms and the luxurious surroundings, Odysseus longed for his home and family, so the Olympian gods finally allowed his freedom. Here, the god Hermes swoops down to free Odysseus from Calypso’s embrace. De Lairesse, popularly known as the “Dutch Poussin,” introduced to the Netherlands a classicizing style influenced by artists of the French Academy.
Provenance
Thomas Wodehouse Legh, 2nd Baron Newton [1857-1942], Cheshire, upon his death, probably held in trust by the estate (Until 1946); (Sale, Sotheby’s London, July 17, 1946, lot 63, sold to Julius Singer)1 (1946); (Julius Singer, London, probably sold to a Rio de Janeiro private collector) (1946-); Private collection, Rio de Janeiro (Until 1991); (Christie’s, New York, sale, Oct. 9, 1991, lot 195, sold to Johnny van Haeften, Ltd.) (1991); (Johnny van Haeften, Ltd., London, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art) (1991-1992); The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Ohio (1992-)
Accession Number
1992.2
Medium
oil on canvas
Dimensions
Framed: 118.5 x 140 x 9 cm (46 5/8 x 55 1/8 x 3 9/16 in.); Unframed: 91.4 x 113.7 cm (36 x 44 3/4 in.)
Classification
Painting
Credit Line
Mr. and Mrs. William H. Marlatt Fund
