Artwork
Arion on a Sea Horse
Arion on a Sea Horse is an unspecified painting by the Impressionist artist William Adolphe Bouguereau. It dates from 1855 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
This painting shows a man riding a sea horse. He floats over dark blue waves with a gold sky behind. The man wears a red cloak. The sea horse has a curly tail.
Bouguereau painted this in 1855 for a Paris home. The scene copies ancient Roman art. It uses flat shapes like mosaic tiles. The gold background makes the rider stand out.
Look up William Adolphe Bouguereau (French, 1825–1905) next.
Overview
Arion on a Sea Horse is a painting created by William Adolphe Bouguereau in 1855, one of eight works commissioned by Anatole Bartholoni for his Parisian residence, reflecting the then-popular Pompeian-revival decorative style.
Subject & Meaning
Depicting the ancient Greek poet Arion escaping danger on a sea horse, attracted by his singing, the painting alludes to the transformative power of art. A companion piece features a bacchante on a panther, symbolically linking the two works through themes of creative expression and divine association.
Technique & Style
Characterized by crisp, flat forms reminiscent of mosaic tiles, the painting features a gold background that contrasts with dark blue waves, accentuating the central figure. The style emulates ancient Roman designs, as per the commission's aesthetic requirements.
History & Provenance
Originally painted for a specific Parisian interior in 1855, the work was publicly showcased at the 1857 Paris Salon exhibition, marking an early highlight in Bouguereau's career.
Context
Part of a broader 19th-century fascination with classical antiquity, this piece reflects the era's decorative and artistic trends, particularly the Pompeian-revival style influencing interior design and art.
Artist & collection
Artist
William-Adolphe Bouguereau (French pronunciation: ; 30 November 1825 – 19 August 1905) was a French academic painter.
