Artwork

Invocation to the Divinities who preside over Agriculture from Virgil's "Georgics"

Invocation to the Divinities who preside over Agriculture from Virgil's "Georgics" is a drawing by the Romanticist artist Anne-Louis Girodet. It dates from 1798 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1798 by French artist Anne-Louis Girodet de Roucy-Trioson, *Invocation to the Divinities who preside over Agriculture from Virgil's 'Georgics'* is a drawing that captures a dynamic scene inspired by Virgil's poetic work. The piece combines mythological and human figures in a cloud-filled environment, conveying a sense of energetic activity.

Subject & Meaning

The drawing depicts a mixed assembly of deities and mortals, possibly invoking divine blessings for agriculture, as suggested by the reference to Virgil's 'Georgics'. Figures are engaged in various poses, with some holding agricultural tools (sickles) and others musical instruments (lyre), symbolizing the intersection of labor, art, and divine invocation.

Technique & Style

Executed with light, quick lines, the drawing exhibits Girodet's blend of precise draftsmanship, characteristic of his training under Jacques-Louis David, with the emerging expressive qualities of the early Romantic movement. The energetic composition and dreamy, cloud-filled backdrop further emphasize this stylistic convergence.

History & Provenance

Completed in 1798 during the early Romantic period, the drawing is now part of the collection at the Cleveland Museum of Art, highlighting its enduring significance within the artist's oeuvre and the broader artistic transition of its time.

Artist & collection

Artist

Anne-Louis Girodet

Anne-Louis Girodet de Roussy-Trioson (French pronunciation: ; or de Roucy), also known as Anne-Louis Girodet-Trioson or simply Girodet (29 January 1767 – 9 December 1824), was a French painter and pupil of Jacques-Louis…