The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of March 29, 2024

Clio, Muse of History

Clio, Muse of History

1800
(French, 1768–1832)
Framed: 290 x 192.4 x 7 cm (114 3/16 x 75 3/4 x 2 3/4 in.); Unframed: 273 x 176 cm (107 1/2 x 69 5/16 in.)

Did You Know?

Clio's name is derived from a Greek word meaning "to recount" or "to celebrate."

Description

Clio, the Greek muse of history, is the daughter of Zeus and Titaness Mnemosyne, the goddess of memory. Clio is depicted here writing and surrounded by objects associated with preserving the memory of historical figures and events: busts, reliefs, and sculptures. This painting belongs to a cycle of works commissioned by businessman François Boyer-Fonfréde for his home in Toulouse.
  • In 1819, Nicolas-Antoine de Castella, general of the Swiss regiments in France, purchased the paintings and placed them in his Castle of Wallenreid, Switzerland; direct descendants; Pierre de Castella, Mannaz, Switzerland.
  • Bellenger, Sylvain, Paul J. and Edith Ingalls Vignos Jr. "Magnificent Muses", Cleveland Museum of Art. Cleveland Art: The Cleveland Museum of Art Members Magazine. Vol. 44 no. 01, January 2004 Mentioned & reproduced: cover, p. 5, p. 7 archive.org
    Wat, Pierre. "Procession des-ismes ou parade des individus? Comment s'ecrit l'histoire de l'art du X"IX siecle." In L'art du XIX siecle: l'heure de la modernite,1789-1914. 20-75. Paris: Citadelles & Mazenod, 2016. 20-21
    Wat, Pierre. "Procession des '-ismes' ou parade des individus? Comment s'ecrit l'histoire de l'art du XIX siecle." In L'art du XIXe siècle: l'heure de la modernité 1789-1914. Bertrand Tillier, 21-76. Paris: Citadelles & Mazenod, 2016. Reproduced: p. 20
    Musée du Grand Siècle, and Frédérique Lanoë. La curiosité à l'œuvre: dessins de la donation Pierre Rosenberg. Paris : Le Passage, 2022. Mentioned and reproduced: p. 74, fig. 31a
  • {{cite web|title=Clio, Muse of History|url=false|author=Charles Meynier|year=1800|access-date=29 March 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2003.6.5