Artwork
Ariadne
Ariadne is an oil painting by the Hudson River School artist Asher Brown Durand. It dates from 1833 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 97.29.2
- Credit line
- Gift of Samuel P. Avery, 1897
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting presents Ariadne, a figure from Greek mythology, in a state of nudity that references classical ideals of the human form.
The painting presents Ariadne, a figure from Greek mythology, in a state of nudity that references classical ideals of the human form. She is positioned beside a tree, an element that, within the mythological context, alludes to stories of exile and connection. The work belongs to the mythological genre, emphasizing narrative content drawn from ancient legend.
By situating Ariadne in a natural setting, the composition suggests themes of abandonment and the search for direction, motifs commonly associated with her mythic narrative. The depiction aligns with the American Wing's classification of the piece as a mythological painting created in 1833.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1833, Asher Brown Durand's Ariadne is an oil painting on a canvas support. The work measures approximately 43.5 by 49.2 centimetres, presenting a mythological scene centered on the figure of Ariadne. Stylistically, the composition incorporates elements of nudity and naturalism, specifically featuring a tree within the setting.
As a piece classified under mythological genre painting, the medium allows for the detailed rendering of the human form against a landscape backdrop, characteristic of Durand's approach during this period. The materials consist of oil pigments applied to a woven canvas ground.
History & Provenance
Asher Brown Durand created the oil on canvas painting Ariadne in 1833. The work, which depicts the mythological figure Ariadne alongside elements of nudity and a tree, was completed during this year according to museum records. While the available documentation confirms the artist, medium, and date of inception, it does not contain specific details regarding the original commission, the initial ownership chain, or the subsequent provenance history leading to its current status.
The piece is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is classified within the American Wing.
Overview
The oil on canvas painting titled Ariadne depicts a sleeping female figure on a rocky coastline, with a luminous sea stretching behind her. Draped in a red cloth, her form is illuminated, capturing the interplay of light and shadow. This work, housed in the American Wing, represents a unique collaboration, having been initiated by John Vanderlyn and completed years later by Asher B. Durand. It portrays the mythological princess Ariadne, abandoned on the island of Naxos.
Artist & collection
Artist
Asher Brown Durand spent his life in the rolling hills of New Jersey, where the forests and farmland shaped his quiet, deliberate way of seeing.
