Lot Essay
Maria first appears in Sterne's Tristram Shandy, wandering aimlessly about the countryside around her home at Moulins in France, accompanied by her dog, 'Silvio', and playing her pipes. She has been crossed in love and cannot recover. She next appears in Sterne's Sentimental Journey, and the present picture is an illustration to this.
Penelope, a Princess of Greece, was the wife of Ulysses, King of Ithica. He went to fight in the Trojan War, leaving her behind with their son Telemachus. After ten years, when he did not return, she was beset by suitors who tried to persuade her that he was dead. She promised to accept one of them when she had completed her tapestry; to avoid this she unravelled at night what she had woven during the day until Ulysses returned, twenty years after his departure.
Calypso, one of the Oceanides, a daughter of Atlas, was Goddess of Silence, and reigned on the Island of Ogygia. When Ulysses was shipwrecked on the island she showed him great hospitality, and begged him to become her husband. After seven years delay, during which time they had two sons, Ulysses left, leaving Calypso desolate at his departure.
The subject of Una is taken from Spencer's Faerie Queene, Book 1, Canto 3. Una, the personification of Truth, having been abandoned by the Red Knight, tames and is befriended by a lion.
Angelica Kauffmann's interpretation of the character of 'Maria' was highly praised, and so popular that according to Joseph Moser 'numerous indeed were the copies she made of the original design'. The first version was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1777, no.194, and was engraved by Ryland. There are versions at Nottingham and Burghley House (no.234).
Penelope, a Princess of Greece, was the wife of Ulysses, King of Ithica. He went to fight in the Trojan War, leaving her behind with their son Telemachus. After ten years, when he did not return, she was beset by suitors who tried to persuade her that he was dead. She promised to accept one of them when she had completed her tapestry; to avoid this she unravelled at night what she had woven during the day until Ulysses returned, twenty years after his departure.
Calypso, one of the Oceanides, a daughter of Atlas, was Goddess of Silence, and reigned on the Island of Ogygia. When Ulysses was shipwrecked on the island she showed him great hospitality, and begged him to become her husband. After seven years delay, during which time they had two sons, Ulysses left, leaving Calypso desolate at his departure.
The subject of Una is taken from Spencer's Faerie Queene, Book 1, Canto 3. Una, the personification of Truth, having been abandoned by the Red Knight, tames and is befriended by a lion.
Angelica Kauffmann's interpretation of the character of 'Maria' was highly praised, and so popular that according to Joseph Moser 'numerous indeed were the copies she made of the original design'. The first version was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1777, no.194, and was engraved by Ryland. There are versions at Nottingham and Burghley House (no.234).