Inventor of Greek Figures, Plate 10
1771
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1771
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Inventor of Greek Figures, Plate 10 is a 1771 by Benigno Bossi, a Romanticism work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
You see a man posing like an ancient Greek statue, dressed in fancy robes and holding a scroll. This print pokes fun at the 18th-century craze for all things Greek. Wealthy Europeans loved decorating their homes with Greek-style vases and columns, even if they didn’t quite get the look right. The artist based this on a drawing of a real architect showing off his own "Greek" outfit—more costume than classic. If you like this playful take on history, look up *Italy, 18th century* for more over-the-top fashions.
