Artwork
Manfred and Astarte (2nd plate)
Manfred and Astarte (2nd plate) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Henri Fantin-Latour. It dates from 1881 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Manfred and Astarte (2nd plate) is a lithograph created by Henri Fantin-Latour in 1881. It is part of a series of prints the artist made in the late 19th century, often inspired by literary themes.
Subject & Meaning
The print illustrates a scene from Lord Byron's dramatic poem Manfred, showing the titular character kneeling before the spirit Astarte. The dramatic pose and intense emotion conveyed by the figures reflect the poem's themes.
Technique & Style
The lithograph features a dark, shadowy background with a rocky landscape, contrasting with the flowing white robe of Astarte. Fantin-Latour's use of lithography allows for expressive rendering of texture and mood, characteristic of his printmaking practice.
Context
Fantin-Latour was known for his still-life paintings and group portraits, but this work showcases his engagement with literary subjects and Romantic themes, common in his prints from the 1870s and 1880s.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Ignace Henri Jean Theodore Fantin-Latour (French pronunciation: ; 14 January 1836 – 25 August 1904) was a French painter and lithographer best known for his flower paintings and group portraits of Parisian artists and writers.
