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Lot Essay
At an early age Gaius Cornelius Gallus (c. 70 BC-26 BC), a poet, orator and politician, left his home in Gaul and moved to Rome, where he was taught by the same master as Virgil, who dedicated one of his eclogues (X) to him. He enjoyed a high reputation among his contemporaries as a man of intellect, and Ovid considered him the first of the elegiac poets of Rome. He wrote four books of elegies chiefly on his mistress Lycoris (a poetical name for Cytheris, a notorious actress), and is often thought of as a key figure in the establishment of the genre of Latin love-elegy. In political life Gallus supported Caesar Augustus, and as a reward for his services was made prefect of Egypt, but he eventually fell out of favour and was banished.
Alma-Tadema has depicted the unhappy poet in banishment deep in thought about his beloved Lycoris. The picture may have been inspired by the artist's visit to Eber's villa at Tutzing on the Starnberger See in Bavaria, from which he drew images of high terraces or cornices looking across an expansive seascape towards mountains.
The painting was gifted by the artist to Constant Coquelin, a leading actor of nineteenth-century France, and a regular guest in the Alma-Tadema household.
We are grateful to Dr Vern Swanson for his help in preparing this catalogue entry.
Alma-Tadema has depicted the unhappy poet in banishment deep in thought about his beloved Lycoris. The picture may have been inspired by the artist's visit to Eber's villa at Tutzing on the Starnberger See in Bavaria, from which he drew images of high terraces or cornices looking across an expansive seascape towards mountains.
The painting was gifted by the artist to Constant Coquelin, a leading actor of nineteenth-century France, and a regular guest in the Alma-Tadema household.
We are grateful to Dr Vern Swanson for his help in preparing this catalogue entry.