Artwork
Terpsichore
Terpsichore is an oil painting by the French Romanticist artist Joseph Fagnani. It dates from 1869 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 74.44
- Credit line
- Gift of an Association of Ladies and Gentlemen, 1874
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The depiction aligns with the genre's tradition of illustrating figures from classical mythology to convey cultural ideals of harmony and artistic achievement.
The painting depicts Terpsichore, the Greek muse of dance and choral song, portrayed as a woman. In classical iconography, Terpsichore is often represented with attributes associated with music and dance. As a muse, she embodies artistic inspiration and creative expression, linking the work to the broader theme of mythological allegory within 19th-century academic painting.
The depiction aligns with the genre's tradition of illustrating figures from classical mythology to convey cultural ideals of harmony and artistic achievement.
Technique & Style
The work is an oil painting on canvas, measuring approximately 110.5 cm in height and 83.8 cm in width. It belongs to the American Wing collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and portrays the Muse Terpsichore as a solitary female figure within a mythological context. The composition emphasizes a naturalistic pose and graceful drapery, characteristic of 19th-century academic treatment of mythological subjects.
History & Provenance
Terpsichore is an 1869 oil on canvas by Joseph Fagnani (also known as Giuseppe Fagnani), depicting the Muse Terpsichore. The painting, measuring 110.5 × 83.8 cm, is held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where it is catalogued under the American Wing. No intermediate owners prior to the museum's acquisition are recorded in the available sources.
Overview
Joseph Fagnani's 1869 oil on canvas, Terpsichore, portrays one of the nine Greek Muses. This work belongs to a mythological series by the artist, depicting the muse associated with dance and song. The painting captures a moment of repose rather than action, presenting the figure in a contemplative state. Its inclusion in The American Wing suggests its significance within American art collections.
Artist & collection
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