Circe and Ulysses

Lauri employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, allowing bright illumination to carve the figures from a shadowy backdrop of a ruined arch and dense forest. The contrast of light on the polished armor and flowing drapery against the dim surroundings heightens the drama, while the careful modeling of flesh and stone reflects the Baroque interest in movement and emotional intensity.

Created in the mid‑17th century, the painting entered the Statens Museum for Kunst’s holdings as part of its early acquisitions of Italian Baroque works. Its provenance prior to museum acquisition remains undocumented, but the piece has been exhibited in several European surveys of mythological painting, confirming its attribution to Lauri.