Homer and Calliope

c. 1786

Tommaso Conca

Associated Names
Tommaso Conca

Artist, Italian, 1734 - 1822

In the image, there are two central figures. One is an older man seated, shown from the chest up with one hand resting on a rolled scroll. He has a beard and disheveled hair, and his expression is focused as he gazes upward. The man's body is muscular and mostly uncovered, with a cloth draped over his lap. An elegant woman stands beside him, gesturing towards him, with styled hair and flowing garments. The background features architectural elements like columns and arches.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    black chalk with brown and gray wash and white andpink heightening, squared in graphite, on brown p aper

  • Credit Line

    Julius S. Held Collection

  • Dimensions

    overall: 32.6 x 24.4 cm (12 13/16 x 9 5/8 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1985.1.27

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Julius S. Held [1905-2002], by 1970; gift 1985 to NGA.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

1970

  • Selections from the Drawing Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Julius S. Held, University Art Gallery, Binghamton; traveling exhibition, 1970, no. 116.

Inscriptions

probably by artist across bottom in brown ink: Omero in atto di cantare la sua Iliade, presente Calliope-; later hand center verso in graphite: Tommaso Conca / study for / fresco in Rome; eRv//in graphite: R 18 x 22; lLv//in graphite: 6-May / [?]

Wikidata ID

Q64633336

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