Achilles Discovered with the Daughters of Lycomedes, Giovanni Antonio Pellegrini

Artwork Overview

Giovanni Antonio Pellegrini, Achilles Discovered with the Daughters of Lycomedes
Giovanni Antonio Pellegrini, Achilles Discovered with the Daughters of Lycomedes
Giovanni Antonio Pellegrini
Achilles Discovered with the Daughters of Lycomedes
early 1700s
Giovanni Antonio Pellegrini, artist
1675–1741
Achilles Discovered with the Daughters of Lycomedes, early 1700s
Where object was made: Venice, Italy
Material/technique: oil; canvas
Dimensions:
Canvas/Support (Height x Width x Depth): 97.2 x 132.1 cm
Canvas/Support (Height x Width x Depth): 38 1/4 x 52 in
Weight (Weight): 45 lbs
Frame Dimensions (Height x Width x Depth): 45 3/4 x 59 1/2 x 2 1/4 in
Credit line: Gift of A.W. Kincade
Accession number: 1975.0035
On display: Michaelis Gallery
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Images

Label texts

Exhibition Label:
"Corpus," Apr-2012, Denise Giannino
The story of Achilles is one of drama, guile, disguise, and revelation. When Achilles’ mother learned that her son would die in the Trojan War, she disguised him as a maiden and sent him to live with the daughters of King Lycomedes. He lived undetected for many years until he was given a choice of objects and chose a sword, an action that revealed his masculinity. Pellegrini’s luminous color palette, energetic brushstrokes, and billowing drapery contribute to the unfolding drama. The theatricality of such scenes appealed to Pellegrini’s sophisticated, aristocratic patrons and drew on his expertise of designing stage sets for the opera.

Archive Label 1999:
When the Greek mythological hero Achilles was nine, his mother, the sea nymph Thetis, learned that her son would die in the Trojan War. To keep him safe, she sent Achilles to live on the island of Skyros and disguised him as one of Lycomedes's daughters. Ulysses devised a way to discover Achilles. He and his men visited Skyros disguised as merchants, offering jewels, trinkets, and a sword. Unable to resist seizing the sword, Achilles revealed his identity to Ulysses, and they went together to battle.

Pellegrini was one of the finest painters from eighteenth-century Venice. He travelled all over Europe, painting decorations for castles and churches as well as smaller easel paintings. With Marco Ricci (whose Flight into Egypt hangs nearby) he worked in England, where he had a profound impact on the development of eighteenth-century taste. Pellegrini was influenced by Luca Giordano, whose work is represented in the Renaissance Gallery on the third floor.

Conservation of this painting was supported by the Samuel H. Kress Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Bay Foundation.

Exhibitions

Empowerment
Susan Earle, curator
Celka Straughn, curator
Kristina Walker, curator
Angela Watts, curator
2022–2027
Empowerment
Susan Earle, curator
Celka Straughn, curator
Kristina Walker, curator
Angela Watts, curator
2022–2027

Resources

Audio

Didactic – Art Minute
Didactic – Art Minute
Episode 134 Dec-2007, Nancy Hernandez I’m David Cateforis with another art minute from the Spencer Museum of Art. To capture the attention of his viewers, the eighteenth-century Venetian painter Giovanni Antonio Pellegrini illustrates an ancient story in a theatrical way. As if on a stage, a curtain is drawn back in the corner of his painting to reveal a close view of several people inspecting jewelry displayed on a merchant's table. Spotlighted near the center is an intense young woman who holds a sword and ignores the jewelry. Something is strange about this woman, who possesses unusually large hands and a thick neck. “She” is actually the Greek hero Achilles, whose mother, fearing his death in battle, disguises him as a girl and hides him with Lycomedes and his daughters. The Greek prince Odysseus-also in disguise, as a merchant-witnesses the warrior choosing the sword, which effectively ends the masquerade. Achilles joins Odysseus, and eventually dies in the Trojan War. In the painting, diagonal lines, such as the sword, and the warm orange and gold colors enliven Pellegrini's dramatic retelling of this captivating story. With thanks to Nancy Hernandez for her text, from the Spencer Museum of Art, I’m David Cateforis.
Audio Tour – Bulldog Podcast
Audio Tour – Bulldog Podcast

Links

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