Polyphemus was the most famous Cyclops, the mythological giant beasts, who lived off the coast of Sicily. Polyphemus had taken Odysseus and his companions captive, but through a clever plan of Odysseus, they were able to escape. Gérôme depicts this moment and shows the giant Polyphemus hurling boulders at the departing ship below.

Gérôme's Polyphemus confirms his reputation as a superb colorist. The calm sea is made up of blue, violet, and turquoise. The boulders are bathed in an intense sunlight which also reflects off the sails of Odysseus's ship. According to Professor Gerald Ackerman, Gérôme most likely worked up a small wax or plaster maquette for the pose of Polyphemus, or he may have used a live model in his studio. The pose is also very similar to the gladiator with a whip in his painting of Christian Martyrs (G. Ackerman, no. ). A preparatory drawing of Polyphemus exists in a private collection and was exhibited in Vesoul in 1981.

We are grateful to Professor Gerald Ackerman for his assistance in preparing this catalogue entry.