Artwork

Apollon vendant sa lyre

Apollon vendant sa lyre, by Amédée Charles Henri Cham, ink, 1849
Apollon vendant sa lyre, by Amédée Charles Henri Cham, ink, 1849

Apollon vendant sa lyre is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Amédée Charles Henri Cham. It dates from 1849 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Apollon vendant sa lyre is a lithograph created by Amédée Charles Henri Cham in 1849. The print depicts a humorous scene.

Subject & Meaning

The scene shows a figure dressed as an ancient Greek, likely Apollo, handing a lyre to a modern man on a city street. The title suggests a joke about the devaluation of art, with Apollo selling his iconic instrument.

Technique & Style

The lithograph is characterized by loose, sketchy lines, conveying a sense of spontaneity and humor. The style is unpolished, adding to the comedic effect.

Context

The print may be related to the artistic and cultural debates of its time, potentially commenting on the perceived decline in the value of art.

Artist & collection

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.