 |
||
This Week from the Gallery ArchivesPlease note that the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum prohibits the use of images from its collection in public exhibition, broadcast, electronic reproduction or publication in any form without prior written permission from the institution. If you would like to reproduce any of the Art Gallery images in any form, contact us at 748-8291.
Pierre Olivier Joseph Coomans (1816-1889), Belgian The nineteenth century was an age of historic revivals. After a visit to the archaeological sites at Pompeii and Herculaneum in Italy in 1857, the Belgian academic painter Pierre Olivier Joseph Coomans joined the ranks of artists inspired by the cities' ancient mystery and grandeur. His inspiration for this painting was, in fact, a figure from classical Greek history, Aspasia, the brilliant and reportedly beautiful mistress of the ancient Athenian statesman Pericles. Also a friend of the philosopher Socrates, Aspasia was credited with much of Pericles' success as an orator and blamed for his perceived missteps in matters of state, particularly for starting the Peloponnesian War with neighboring Sparta in 431 B.C.E. The rich colors and sumptuous fabrics of Coomans' scene are illustrative of the exotic allure that ancient civilization held for artists of the nineteenth century. |
||
