Artwork
Zeuxis choisissant des modèles
Zeuxis choisissant des modèles is an oil painting by the Neoclassicist artist Nicolas-André Monsiau. It dates from 1799 and is held in the collection of the Art Gallery of Ontario.
About this work
Overview
Zeuxis choisissant des modèles is an 1799 oil painting by Nicolas-André Monsiau, a French Neoclassical artist. The work depicts a scene inspired by the ancient Greek painter Zeuxis, set within a classical architectural space.
Subject & Meaning
The painting illustrates Zeuxis selecting models from a group of women to create an idealized artwork. A central nude female figure, partially draped, stands on a platform, surrounded by others, conveying the artist’s search for perfection through classical ideals.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil paint, the work exemplifies Monsiau’s Poussiniste style, characterized by refined technique, attention to classical themes, and a composed, elegant atmosphere. The inclusion of a figure painting the scene (likely Zeuxis) adds a meta-artistic layer.
History & Provenance
Completed in 1799, the painting is part of the Neoclassical movement’s resurgence of interest in classical antiquity. It is currently housed in the collection of the Art Gallery of Ontario.
Context
Created during the Neoclassical period, the painting reflects the era’s values: the pursuit of classical beauty, the importance of artistic technique, and the reverence for ancient Greek and Roman culture.
Artist & collection
Artist
Nicolas-André Monsiau (1754 – 31 May 1837) was a French history painter and a refined draughtsman who turned to book illustration to supplement his income when the French Revolution disrupted patronage.
The Magnanimity of Lycurgus
Helen Recognising Telemachus, Son of Odysseus
The Death of Socrates
Alexander the Great and Campaspe in the Studio of Apelles
Roman Women Offering Their Jewellery in Defence of the State
The Return of Ulysses. Scene from Homer´s Ulysses
Apelles Painting Campaspe
The Return of Ulysses. Scene from Homer´s Ulysses
The Death of Socrates
Virgil Reading the "Aeneid" to Augustus, Octavia, and Livia
Sermon of St Paul amidst the Ruins
Virgil Reading the "Aeneid" to Augustus, Octavia, and Livia