Apollo and the Muses, 17th-18th century
François Verdierexpand_more
Black and white chalk and gray washexpand_more
Bequest of Professor Alfred Moirexpand_more 2012.58.166
On View in Gallery 317expand_more
Among the Roman god Apollo’s alternate names were Dionysus, his Greek epithet; Phoebus, meaning “bright” and referencing his rule over the sun; and Musagetes, leader of the Muses. The Muses were goddesses of the poetic arts, all nine of them daughters of Jupiter (god of thunder) and Mnemosyne (goddess of memory). Apollo, center, appears here in his capacity as god of music, playing his lyre.
At left, Apollo’s winged steed, Pegasus, is poised near the mythical spring Hippocrene, brought to life when Pegasus forcefully thrust his hoof into the ground. This spring, located on the Muses’ sacred Mount Helicon, was said to inspire poetry when its waters were consumed.
Details
- Title
- Apollo and the Muses
- Artist Life
- 1651 - 1730
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 2012.58.166
- Provenance
- Chevalier de Damery, Lugt 2862 (d. c. 1803), Paris; Joseph F. Klein, New York (until 1974; sale, Sotheby's, London, October 10, 1974, no. 13, for £45, to Moir; Alfred Moir, Santa Barbara (1974-d. 2010; bequeathed to MIA)
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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