Sappho to Phoebus consecrates her lyre
Item
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Title
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Sappho to Phoebus consecrates her lyre
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Rights
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The British Museum, London, UK. © The Trustees of the British Museum. CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license.
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Creator
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James Heath (1757-1834), after Richard Westall (1765-1836)
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Date
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ca. 1804
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Description
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Sappho kneels on the left side of the illustration, facing the right, where an altar stands with a lyre leaning atop it. The sea and trees near the shore can be seen just behind the building in which Sappho kneels, which appears to be open-air. She wears a robe-like dress with a strap that goes between her breasts, leaving them uncovered. Her hair is down, flowing behind her left shoulder, with a headband or laurel adorning the crown of her head. Her hands are clasped as she stares up beyond the height of the lyre on its altar. A long piece of fabric slightly darker than her light garments is draped over her left forearms and around her back atop her feet and ankles. This rectangular illustration is framed by blank space with handwriting on it. Below the art are two signatures on the right and left sides, further below the image “Sappho to Phoebus consecrates her lyre” is written.
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Format
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Etching and engraving on paper. 5.7 × 3.7 in.
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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The British Museum.
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Contributor
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Shenai Beyale
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Identifier
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The British Museum. 1889,0603.70.
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Subject
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Sappho; lyre; Phoebus; literature; art; etching; engraving
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Source
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Jpg file. The British Museum. 11/9/2025. https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1889-0603-70
