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The Cleveland Museum of Art
Calliope, Muse of Epic Poetry
Description
The eldest of the nine Greek muses, Calliope was the goddess of music, song, and dance. She was also known as the goddess of epic poetry and conferred the gift of eloquence on kings and princes. She stands here before a bust of Homer, the ancient Greek poet who wrote the Odyssey and the Iliad. This painting belongs to a cycle of five works commissioned by businessman François Boyer-Fonfréde for his home in Toulouse.
Provenance
In 1819, Nicolas-Antoine de Castella, general of the Swiss regiments in France, purchased the paintings and placed them in his Castle of Wallenreid, Switzerland; direct descendants; Pierre de Castella, Mannaz, Switzerland.
Dimensions
275 × 177 cm
Movement / Period
Accession No
2003.6.4
Official Citations
Curatorial Affinity Stream
Continuing the Universe of Charles Meynier (French, 1768–1832)
Modern European Painting and Sculpture • France, late 18th-early 19th century • Harmonious Works & Contemporaries
Continuous Discovery