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Oedipus cursing his son Polynices

Watercolour
ca. 1786 (made)
Artist/Maker
Henry Fuseli (artist)
Place of origin
England (made)

Watercolour entitled 'Oedipus cursing his son Polynices', depicting an elderly blind Oedipus pointing angrily at his son, who is kneeling on the ground before his father, twisting his head and body in the opposite direction.

Object details

Categories
Myths & Legends
Paintings
Object type
Watercolour
TitleOedipus cursing his son Polynices (popular title)
Materials and techniques
Watercolour
Water-Colour
Painting
Brief description
Watercolour by Henry Fuseli entitled 'Oedipus cursing his son Polynices', from 'Oedipus Coloneus' by Sophocles. Great Britain, ca. 1786.
Physical description
Watercolour entitled 'Oedipus cursing his son Polynices', depicting an elderly blind Oedipus pointing angrily at his son, who is kneeling on the ground before his father, twisting his head and body in the opposite direction.
Dimensions
  • From catalogue height: 51.4cm
  • From catalogue width: 46.4cm
Dimensions taken from departmental notes
Object history
There is a stipple engraving of this drawing by John Perry, museum number 18640.
Subjects depicted
Blindness
Gesture
Father
Sons
Oedipus
Literary referenceOedipus Coloneus by Sophocles
Bibliographic references
  • Cogeval, Guy & Avanzi, Beatrice (Eds.), De la Scene au Tableau, Paris : Flammarion, 2009 53
  • Henry Fuseli's dramatic painting, exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1786, depicts the climax of Sophocles' 'Oedipus at Colonus'. In this ancient Greek tragedy, King Oedipus had gone into self-imposed exile at Colonus, a town near Athens, after discovering to his horror that he had unwittingly murdered his father and married his own mother. The kneeling Polynices, one of Oedipus’ two sons, hopes to win his father's favour over his brother Eteocles had usurped the throne. Outraged by both his unfaithful sons, Oedipus condemns them to die in battle by each other's hand. The blind king extends his powerful arms to curse them, while Polynices recoils as if struck a painful blow. Standing between her father and brother, Antigone, Oedipus's loyal daughter (and sister) seeks reconciliation. Her weeping sister, Ismene, personifies sorrow to contrast with Antigone's strength of will.
Collection
Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number
FA.698

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Record createdFebruary 2, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O185934/oedipus-cursing-his-son-polynices-watercolour-henry-fuseli/
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