Artwork
Mercury Orders Calypso to Allow Ulysses Depart
Mercury Orders Calypso to Allow Ulysses Depart is a print by the Baroque artist Gerard de Lairesse. It dates from 1670 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Mercury Orders Calypso to Allow Ulysses Depart is a print by Gerard de Lairesse, depicting a scene from Homer's Odyssey.
Subject & Meaning
The print illustrates the moment when Hermes, messenger of the gods, instructs Calypso to release Odysseus from her island, ending his seven-year captivity. A bearded figure, likely Zeus, observes from a cloud.
Technique & Style
De Lairesse's work is characterized by its classical architecture, idealized figures, and a formal, dramatic style, reflecting French artistic influences in the Netherlands.
Context
De Lairesse's style contrasts with the more intimate and everyday approach to art typical of Dutch artists of his time, such as Rembrandt.
Artist & collection
Artist
Gerard or Gérard (de) Lairesse (French pronunciation: ; 11 September 1641 – June 1711) was a Dutch Golden Age painter and art theorist.
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