A Critique of The Apotheosis of Homer by Ingres
By: Heather Wahl
Ingres’ Apotheosis of Homer “is the first painting that offers a literal elaboration of how the classical tradition was constituted” (Seigfried). All of the great artists of history, including those who came after Homer’s time, surround Homer in his coronation and come baring gifts. I feel the impact of the painting, is to show that all of the greats from history, from other poets, to playwrights, and composers have Homer to thank for their inspiration and that is why they are honoring him by bringing gifts. “Ingres represented Homer as a dead weight at the center of his painting, at once the least embodied and the most embodied of any of the figures. He is the only one seated and facing front, pale and blind, compared with the play of colors, gestures, and glances that animates the surrounding company” (Seigfried). Even though the painting is centered around the epic master, he seems alone, with his two works, embodied in the people sitting at his feet. His poems, both portrayed as women, are the only women in the painting except for the angel giving Homer his crown, almost seem mad at one another. The Iliad, which is shown with a sword, is pouting, while the Odyssey, shown with an oar, has her head turned the other direction and appears to be angry because her right hand is propped up against face and her left arm is crossed across her body in defiance.
This critique of the Apotheosis of Homer, will examine the other figures surrounding
Homer, and try to explain the importance of their presence. In the Apotheosis of Homer
that resembles a ‘paint-by-number’ every individual is .
Horace who is hidden on the left side of the painting was acquainted with Virgil and Varius. He dedicated his life to literary pursuits, and he is known for his first book, the book of Satires. http://www.theatredatabase.com/ancient/horace_001.html
Peisistratus, who is also barely noticeable on the left side of the painting, was the son of Hippocrates, who was a Greek statesman who became the leader of Athens for a period of time. http://peisistratus.biography.ms/
Lycurgus (mythical) was the first legislator of Sparta is also placed in the background on the left side of the painting and is also barely noticeable. http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&u=http://agora.qc.ca/mot.nsf/Dossiers/Lycurgue&prev=/search%3Fq%3DLycurgue%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D
Virgil, who is drapped in the traditional poets garb, is considered the greatest Roman epic poet, due to his work the Aeneid. http://www.online-literature.com/virgil/
Rapheal, an Italian Renaissance painter. http://www.yesnet.yk.ca/schools/projects/renaissance/raphael.html
Sapho
Alcibiades, who is dressed in his weaponery, was a General and Athenian politician, pupil of Périclès and raise of Socrates. http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&u=http://agora.qc.ca/mot.nsf/Dossiers/Alcibiade&prev=/search%3Fq%3DAlcibiade%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D
Apelles, who is probably the most important Greek painter born. http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&u=http://agora.qc.ca/mot.nsf/Dossiers/Apelle&prev=/search%3Fq%3DApelle%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D
Euripides, “was one of the three great tragedians of classical Athens, along with Aeschylus and Sophocles”. http://euripides.biography.ms/
Menander
Demosthenes
Sophocles, “Greek tragic dramatist”. http://www.bartleby.com/65/so/Sophocle.html
Eschyle, a Greek playwright. http://www.gradesaver.com/ClassicNotes/Authors/about_aeschylus.html
Herodotus. http://www.sacklunch.net/biography/H/Herodotus.html
Orpheus
Linos
?
Musee
?
Pindar- http://pindar.biography.ms/
Hesiod- http://hesiod.biography.ms/
Plato
Socrates- http://www.2020site.org/socrates/
Pericles- http://www.sacklunch.net/biography/P/Pericles.html
Pheidias- http://phidias.biography.ms/
Michelangelo
Aristotle- http://library.thinkquest.org/18775/aristotle/bioar.htm
Aristarchus- http://aristarchus.biography.ms/
Alexander the Great- http://wi.essortment.com/alexanderthegr_rxdz.htm
Dante- http://www.waterfordschool.org/Dante/bio.htm
The Iliad
The Odyssey
Aesop
Shakespeare, one of the all time greatest playwrights. http://www.shakespeare-online.com/biography/
The Fountain ?
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Mozart- http://w3.rz-berlin.mpg.de/cmp/mozart.html
Poussin- http://www.wga.hu/frames-e.html?/bio/p/poussin/biograph.html
Corneille- http://www.discoverfrance.net/France/Theatre/Corneille/corneille.shtml
Racine- http://www.discoverfrance.net/France/Theatre/Racine/racine.shtml
(Jean Bapiste Poquelin) Moliere- http://www.discoverfrance.net/France/Theatre/Moliere/moliere.shtml
Nicolas Boileau- http://www.britannica.com/ebc/article?tocId=9357609&query=Paris&ct=gen1
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Fenelon- http://www.swissbyrds.com/fenelon.asp
Christoph Willibald von Gluck- http://www.classiccat.net/gluck_cw_von/biography.htm
Luis Vaz de Camoens- http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03218b.htm
This an additional link that shows the Apothosis of Homer with numbers, except figure 45 and 46 are not known.
A CRITIQUE OF THE APOTHEOSIS OF HOMER BY INGRES
A CRITIQUE OF THE WRITINGS OF THE BENEDICTINE ANSELM
ADULTERY AS UTOPIAN CRITIQUE EXTRAVAGANCE AND PARODY IN FOURIER
Tags: apotheosis of, the apotheosis, critique, ingres, apotheosis, homer