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Mercury Orders Calypso to Allow Ulysses Depart
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In Homer’s <em>Odyssey</em>, Odysseus spends seven years captive to the nymph Calypso. Despite Calypso’s charms, Odysseus longed to return home to his family. In this composition, De Lairesse depicts the moment when the Olympian gods intervene, sending Hermes to release Odysseus from Calypso’s captivity. The Dutch De Lairesse brought French artistic taste to the Netherlands, reflected here in the firmly modeled, idealized figures and classical architecture.
| Artist / Maker | Gerard de Lairesse |
|---|---|
| Date | c. 1670 |
| Culture / Origin | Netherlands |
| Medium | etching |
| Dimensions | Sheet: 42.7 x 53.3 cm (16 13/16 x 21 in.); Matted: 45.7 x 61 cm (18 x 24 in.); Platemark: 35.7 x 47.9 cm (14 1/16 x 18 7/8 in.) |
| Department | Prints |
| Type |
About the Artist
Gerard de Lairesse (Flemish, 1641–1711) Full biography →
Provenance & Source
Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
Condition
A detailed condition report and high-resolution photography are available from our specialists in advance of the sale.
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