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Description: | A head and neck portrait of the Greek epic poet Homer, his head turned slightly to the right, surrounded by a wreath of leaves. Ferns also frame the edges of the piece. A mouse to the left is carrying a spear, and a frog to the right is holding onto the wreath, as suggested by the poem 'Batrachomyomachia' (The Battle of Frogs and Mice). 'Batrachomyomachia' was a later parody of Homer's work by an unknown author. The piece is one of 18 heads of poets made for Blake's patron: William Hayley. The series was commissioned for the library of his house at Felpham, Sussex, and follows the ancient Roman tradition of decorative literary heads.
Technique: tempera on canvas
medium: tempera
Homer by William Blake, 1800 (circa), (1885.19). | Source: | Manchester City Galleries | Identifier: | mcag.emu.ecatalogue.92 | Go to resource |
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