Classical Figures
About the painting
Angelica Kauffmann (1741-1807) was born in Switzerland and was seen as a child prodigy. She soon specialised in history and portraits paintings while in Italy (especially Florence, Rome and Naples, Bologna, Parma and Venice) she was influenced by the nascent Neo-classical style. She became a member of the Roman Accademia di San Luca at the age of 23. She arrived in London in June 1766 and remained there for 15 years before moving back to Italy with her second husband the painter Antonio Zucchi (1726-1796). In London, she was a founder-member of the Royal Academy. All her life, she enjoyed international patronage such as the family of George III in Britain, Grand Duke Paul and Price Nikolay Yusupov in Russia, Queen Caroline of Naples and Emperor Joseph II of Austria among others. She died in Rome where her funeral was arranged by the Neo-classical sculptor Antonio Canova (1757-1822).
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This painting is an oil sketch, i.e. a preparatory study for a larger composition. It shows classical figures set in a military camp. In the 1770s, Kauffmann made a series of painting drawing from classical subjects such as the Trojan legend and the Odyssey. Although the precise subject matter has not been identified, the overall setting, classical dresses and burning incense on the altar indicates that it probably draws from a Greek or Latin source.
Victoria and Albert Museum
