Zeuxis Selecting Models for His Painting of Helen of Troy
Painting by Angelica Kauffman
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Zeuxis Selecting Models for His Painting of Helen of Troy is a c.1778 history painting by the Swiss artist Angelica Kauffman.[1] The painting features a legendary scene featuring the Ancient Greek painter Zeuxis who attempting to produce a picture of Helen of Troy struggled to find a model to capture her celebrated beauty. Ultimately he chose five different women from the island of Crotone in Magna Graecia to produce a composite work of ideal beauty.[2]
| Zeuxis Selecting Models for His Painting of Helen of Troy | |
|---|---|
| |
| Artist | Angelica Kauffman |
| Year | c.1778 |
| Type | Oil on canvas, history painting |
| Dimensions | 77.3 cm × 110 cm (30.45 in × 43 in) |
| Location | Brown University, Providence |
Kauffman was a leading artist of the Neoclassical style and she sought to provide authenticity by basing the stances of the various women on classical statues.[3] Today the painting is in the collection of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island.[4]
