Philoctetes on the Island of Lemnos

c. 1510–1515
(Italian, 1495/99–1574)
Overall: 29 x 23 x 8.5 cm (11 7/16 x 9 1/16 x 3 3/8 in.)
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.
Location: not on view

Download, Print and Share

Description

A snake bit the Greek warrior Philoctetes en route to the Trojan War. The stench of the infected wound led the ship’s crew to abandon him on the island of Lemnos, where he fans the agonizing injury with a bird’s wing. The warrior’s noble suffering in the face of tremendous pain would have been a classical model of stoic composure, highly valued in Renaissance court culture.
Philoctetes on the Island of Lemnos

Philoctetes on the Island of Lemnos

c. 1510–1515

Giovanni Maria Mosca

(Italian, 1495/99–1574)
Italy, 16th century

Visually Similar Artworks

Contact us

The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@clevelandart.org.

To request more information about this object, study images, or bibliography, contact the Ingalls Library Reference Desk.

All images and data available through Open Access can be downloaded for free. For images not available through Open Access, a detail image, or any image with a color bar, request a digital file from Image Services.