Apollo Among the Thessalian Shepherds, Joseph Anton Koch, 1768-1839, 1834 - 1835, Painting, Historical Painting, In the left of the picture, Apollo sits playing to the small group of shepherds in ancient dress. He had killed the Cyclops, Jupiter’s armourers, and as a punishment was to tend King Admetos’ herd for a year. During this time, Apollo taught music and poetry to his fellow herdsmen. On the opposite side of the picture we see Marsyas, who is recognisable by his goat’s legs and his flute. He once challenged Apollo to a musical duel, but lost and as a punishment Apollo decided he should be flayed alive. Koch does not take it to such lengths in his picture, but he leaves us in no doubt that Apollo is the victor, the key figure in the painting: Everyone is looking in his direction, and the sky is opened above his head. In making music, they both represent art, but the satyr Marsyas, who is part of Dionysus’s retinue, represents the instinctive, the wild, the unconventional, whereas Apollo stands for the more rational, the balanced, the idealising. It is typical of the neo-classical Koch that he should focus on a mythological scene in which reason wins over emotion, but in such a way that the contrast between the two does not affect the fundamental harmony of the Arcadian landscape., Textile, Canvas, Color, Oil paint, Painted, Height 79.1 cm, Width 115.7 cm, J.K., Painting, European, Modernity (1800 - 1914)
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Apollo, Thessalian Shepherds, Joseph Anton Koch, 1768-1839, 1834, 1835, Painting, Historical Painting, left, picture, Apollo sits playing, small group, shepherds, ancient dress, killed, Cyclops, Jupiter’s armourers, punishment, tend King Admetos’ herd, year, time, Apollo taught music, poetry, fellow herdsmen, opposite side, picture, see Marsyas, recognisable, goat’s legs, flute, challenged Apollo, musical duel, lost, punishment Apollo decided, should, flayed alive, Koch, take, lengths, picture, leaves us, no doubt, Apollo, victor, key figure, painting, Everyone, looking, direction, sky, opened, head, music, represent art, satyr Marsyas, part, Dionysus’s retinue, represents, instinctive, wild, unconventional, whereas Apollo stands, rational, balanced, idealising, typical, neo-classical Koch, should focus, mythological scene, reason wins, emotion, way, contrast, two, affect, fundamental harmony, Arcadian landscape, Textile, Canvas, Color, Oil paint, Painted, Height 79, 1 cm, Width 115, 7 cm, J, K, Painting, European, Modernity, 1800, 1914
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