Label Type
Exhibition labelLabel
Jean Pierre Sudre (1783-1866), French
After Jean-August-Dominique Ingres (1780-1867), French
Oedipus and the Sphinx, 1853
Ink on paper lithograph
2021.05.10
Ingres was a neo-classical painter, often depicting scenes from Ancient Greek and Roman myths like this one. While a student, he won the prestigious Prix-de-Rome, allowing him to spend four years studying art in Rome. He would send works back to Paris to demonstrate his progress. This print is based on one of those paintings and the original now hangs in the Louvre.
The scene is from a Greek tragedy. The hero Oedipus has been confronted by a sphinx, a murderous creature who devours any traveler who cannot correctly answer her riddle. Notice the feet and bones of those that have failed in the lower right.