Orestes and The furies (Ca. 1920–21)
Technique: Giclée quality print
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John Singer Sargent, an artist renowned for his masterful portraitures, ventures into the mythological with his striking painting titled "Orestes and The Furies." Created during 1920-21, this work presents a vivid dramatization of the ancient Greek tale of Orestes, a prince who avenges his father Agamemnon's murder by killing his own mother, Clytemnestra, and her lover.This painting captures the moment when Orestes is pursued by the Furies, goddesses of vengeance, sent to torment him for matricide. The intensity of the scene is palpable, as Orestes, depicted nude, is overwhelmed by the ethereal and menacing forms of the Furies swirling around him. The palette is dominated by cool, ghostly greens and rich, deep reds that highlight the supernatural horror and physical violence of the scene.Sargent's use of dynamic, swirling forms and distorted perspectives enhances the feeling of chaos and torment, effectively conveying Orestes’ physical and psychological anguish. The furious motion and emotional intensity make this painting a powerful representation of the eternal struggle with guilt and retribution.
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Born in Florence to American expatriate parents, John Singer Sargent (1856–1925) is considered Europe's leading portrait painter of the Edwardian era. He was educated at both Accademia delle Belle Arti and Paris's École des Beaux Arts. While in Paris, under the guidance of Émile–Auguste Carolus–Duran, a portraitist and muralist, Sargent learned to paint directly from observation without first sketching, employing a fluidity, influenced by the Impressionists. Sargent created more than 2,900 paintings, mainly portraits and landscapes from his travels across the Atlantic, Europe, the Middle East and America.