Sappho

Title: Sappho
Rights: Smithsonian Institution. Public domain.
Creator: Edward Scriven (1775-1841), after Richard Westall (1765-1836)
Date: 1802
Description: Sappho is depicted waist-up, with her right knee bent so that it fits slightly in frame. She faces the left of the page entirely, her side profile prominent. A laurel adorns the crown of her head. Both the leaves and her hair are visibly flowing in the wind. She wears a dress/robe with her arms uncovered. Her left arm has a jewelry band around the bicep area. Her left forearm rests across her lap, hand covered by her knee. Her right arm is extended by her side and her forearm is obscured by her leg. Behind her is a dark, stormy sky background. Below this illustration is printed text. In big, capital letters, it reads “SAPPHO.” Below that text, it reads “HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCESS OF WALES.” With smaller, cursive text below. Between and partly below the words “HIGHNESS” and “THE” is a crest, likely royal.
Format: Stipple engraving on paper. 20 1/16 × 14 9/16 in.
Language: English
Publisher: Smithsonian Institution.
Contributor: Shenai Beyale
Identifier: Smithsonian Institution. 1931-94-25.
Subject: Sappho; portrait; illustration; literature; greek; poet
Source: Jpg file. Smithsonian Institution. 11/5/2025. https://www.si.edu/object/sappho:chndm_1931-94-25