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Euterpe greek muse of music7/3/2023 ![]() ![]() ![]() Lavinia Fontana (1552–1614), Apollo and the Muses (1598-1600), oil on panel, 67 × 94 cm, location not known. The vanishing point in its sky contains another woman’s head, which is probably that of their mother, Mnemosyne, who has the appearance of a mandorla from a religious work. This is unusually inscribed at the lower left corner. The first of these was probably the Nine Muses for the Palazzo Ducale not in Venice, but in Mantua, and now in the Royal Collection of the UK. In 1578, perhaps extending into the following year, Tintoretto painted six mythological works, in a break from his long series of religious scenes and portraits. Jacopo Tintoretto (c 1518-1594), Nine Muses (E&I 199) (c 1578), oil on canvas, 206.7 x 309.8, The Royal Collection at Windsor Castle, Windsor, England. Raphael (1483–1520), Parnassus (detail) (c 1509-11), fresco, 670 x 770 cm, Stanza della Segnatura, Palazzo Vaticano, The Vatican City. ![]() Surrounding him are the full set of nine Muses, who are mostly not identifiable as individuals. At its centre is the god Apollo, who is bowing a string instrument and looking upward for inspiration. Parnassus is probably the last completed of Raphael’s three great frescoes in the Stanza della Segnatura of the Vatican Palace, by 1511 according to an inscription below the window. Raphael (1483–1520), Parnassus (c 1509-11), fresco, 670 x 770 cm, Stanza della Segnatura, Palazzo Vaticano, The Vatican City. At the far left is Apollo making music for the Muses on his lyre. At the right is Mercury, messenger of the gods, with his caduceus and Pegasus the winged horse. To the left of Mars’ feet is Venus’ child Cupid who is aiming his blowpipe at Vulcan’s genitals, as he works at his forge in the cave at the left. The lovers are shown standing together on a flat-topped rock arch, as the Muses dance below. This refers to the classical myth of the affair between Mars and Venus, the latter being married to Vulcan, who caught them in bed together and cast a fine net around them for the other gods to come and mock their adultery. Wikimedia Commons.Īndrea Mantegna’s painting of Mars and Venus, known better as Parnassus (1496-97) was commissioned by Isabella d’Este. Andrea Mantegna (1431–1506), Parnassus (Mars and Venus) (1496-97), oil on canvas, 159 x 192 cm, Musée du Louvre, Paris. Some of the oldest ‘modern’ paintings of the Muses show them together with the god Apollo on Mount Parnassus. Finally, Urania (Ourania) if the Muse of astronomy, and is associated with a globe or compass. Thalia (Thaleia) is the Muse of comedy, and has a comic mask or a shepherd’s crook. Terpsichore is the Muse of dance, and usually appears with a lyre. Polyhymnia (Polymnia) is the Muse of hymns, and is associated with grapes and agriculture. Melpomene is the muse of tragedy, and usually has the mask characteristic of the genre. Euterpe is the Muse of music and lyric poetry, so plays a flute-like aulos. Erato is the Muse of love poetry, and holds or plays a cithara, a type of lyre. Clio (Kleio) is the Muse of history, and shown with scrolls or books. ![]() Occasionally they are reduced in number, most usually to three, and have a long history of appearing in visual art.Ĭalliope (Kalliope) is the Muse of epic poetry, and is shown with a stylus and tablet or a lyre. Generally accepted as being nine in number, they are most usually named Kleio, Euterpe, Thaleia, Melpomene, Terpsichore, Erato, Polymnia, Ourania, and Kalliope. Their origin is doubted by sources other than Hesiod, though: some claim their parents were Ouranos and Gaia, for instance. Due to the nature of the linoprint process, each piece will have it's own little variations and character, meaning it's unique to you.The Muses (Greek Μοῦσαι Mousai) are the daughters of Mnemosyne, fathered by Zeus over a succession of nine nights which he spent with their mother. They are inked with a roller or brayer and then pressed onto paper, either by hand or with a printing press, to reveal the design. Linocut is a printmaking technique where designs are carved into linoleum. Perfect gift to celebrate a birthday, say thank you, or let someone know you're thinking of them Prints are posted in hard-backed envelopes with eco-friendly plastic-free packaging 140gsm acid free white cartridge paper, made from 80% recycled material Original hand pressed linocut print, unframed This modern interpretation features her reimagined as a pianist, draped over her piano and lost in composition. The muses were the inspiration behind science, literature and the arts, and musicians would call on Euterpe to guide them. It features the muse Euterpe, a goddess who presided over music. Original linocut art print inspired by Greek mythology. ![]()
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