The 18th century was a period of social and economic transformation. The artists and intellectuals who were inspired by the classical past contributed to early neoclassicism. Neoclassicism is both a way of viewing the world and a visual style. Neoclassical paintings show frozen forms, tight compositions, and a shallow space of ancient relief sculpture. This type of art was viewed as the embodiment of timeless civic and moral lessons. They were frequently displayed to inspire patriotism and nationalism. Neoclassicism was often used in Britain, America, and France.
Angelica Hauffman was a Swiss History painter between 1741-1807. She trained in Italy. Angelica Hauffman was one of the best painters of early neoclassicism. She arrived in London in 1766 and inspired British artists to paint classical history paintings and British patrons to buy them. In 1768, she was one of the only two women artists among the founding members of the Royal Academy.
SAPPHO by ANGELICA KAUFFMANN
This painting dates from 1774. In 1775 it was presented in the Royal Academy of Art. This painting was always in private hands.
The painting was originally titled "Lady as Venus with Cupid by Her Side." In 1949, it was changed to "A maiden with Cupid." There was an incorrect translation and the identity of Sappho could not be discovered. The translation read "So come again and deliver me from intolerable pain." These are lines 25-26 from Sappho's first Ode to Aphrodite.
Angelica Kauffmann painted this piece during a time when she was depressed. Her marriage had been annulled. She had been the victim of a husband that was a bigamist. Sappho was a female Homer, an epic poet, with beautiful poetry. She was married with children, but her poems desribed a love for women. She resided on an island called Lesbos. That is where we get the name "Lesbian" for a female homosexual.
This painting is a great example of Kauffmanns' neoclassical style. You can see how the light is diffused and there are no harsh lines. There is not a perfect photographic sense. Everything is very soft. The poem on the scroll is to Aphrodite and her son Exos is standing next to her. There are two possible translations for the text on the scroll. The first is by a former Ringling Curator, "So come again and deliver me from unbearable pain". The second is from an art book and says "Come to me my beautiful one and I shall be free of all sorrow."
Kauffmann drew herself as Sappho in this painting. Henry Fuseli, a Brittish painter, said "her heroines are herself." If you compare Sappho with her two self portraits, you can see the resemblence in the shape of the head, the mouth, and especially the eyes.
Sappho may have been aquired after its first exhibition by John Baker Holroyd when the painting was sold. There are no recorded earlier sales. It is possible that Angelica Kauffmann met the Holroyd's in Ireland when she was there between 1771 and 1772.
Angelica Kauffmann befriended famous poets, scientists, and artists of her time. They were drawn to her literacy and gracefulness. She became the most famous female painter of the 18th century.
REFERENCES
http://www.jstor.org/pss/876642
http://www.ringlingdocents.org/kauffmann.htm
http://www.artchive.com/
There is a lot of drama surrounding Kauffmann's first marriage. Her husband was a charlatan who had presented himself as a count. He basically tricked Kauffmann. Given her friendship and connection with the painter Sir Joshua Reynolds, Kauffmann was able to avoid the social stigma of separation. Years later, after the "count" had passed away, was Kauffmann free to marry again. She married the Venetian painter Antonio Zucchi.
ReplyDelete-Prof. Bowen
Nice post, very informative, I feel like I learned a lot. The painting is very calming, I like the description of it being soft, I really get that sense from it too. I find it interesting the feelings I first experienced looking at the piece juxtaposed with the artist being depressed while painting and the heavy translations of the passage. Before I had learned those things I would have never guessed those would have any connection to this painting.
ReplyDelete-Tom
I love reading about female painters from that time. As a women, I think it is empowering to read about a woman who, even during that time, was so honest about who she was and came out on top when faced with hardships like her marriage. I think it was brave of her to paint Sappho as herself!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your post, it was very detailed! I think it's great that she was only one of two women artists that was a member of the Royal Academy. That's very inspiring as a woman artist viewing another woman artist. Also that she painted herself in her painting!
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