Philoctetes left on the Isle of Lemnos by the Greeks on their passage towards Troy
1840
oil
canvas
From the collection of National Galleries Scotland
1840
oil
canvas
From the collection of National Galleries Scotland
Philoctetes left on the Isle of Lemnos by the Greeks on their passage towards Troy is a 1840 oil by David Scott, a British Romanticism work, held at National Galleries Scotland.
This painting shows a man lying on a rocky beach, with his head resting on his right arm. He is naked except for a red cloth around his waist. His left arm is stretched out behind him, and his legs are bent at the knees. The background is dark, with some distant land and water visible. The man's face is contorted in pain or distress, and he appears to be injured or ill. His body is muscular, but his pose suggests weakness or exhaustion. This painting depicts a scene from Greek mythology, specifically the story of Philoctetes, who was abandoned by the Greeks on their way to Troy. To learn more about the technique of chiaroscuro, which creates a strong contrast between light and dark in this painting, look up chiaroscuro.
David Scott painted dramatic scenes from history and myth in oils during the early 1800s.
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