The Spectator
Item
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Title
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The Spectator
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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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Anker Smith (1759-1819), after Richard Westall (1765-1836)
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Date
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1803
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Description
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Sappho leaps off of the Leucadian cliff in despair, connected to the play and popular tale of her committing suicide after being rejected by Phaon in their love affair. She is mid-leap from the cliff with her arms outstretched, looking up to the sky with sadness. The sea is visible below in the background with a structure in the distance. Behind her, atop the height of the cliff, part of a building is visible with people crowded outside of it watching her. Some appear to be in distress as they watch the scene. Sappho wears a robe-like dress that does not cover her breasts or arms. A thin piece of fabric unfurls around her right shoulder, waving in the wind above and behind her head as she falls.
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Format
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Etching and engraving on paper. 7.5 × 4.7 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. 1868,0822.3113.
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Subject
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Sappho; cliff; Leucas; suicide; fall; despair; literature; Phaon; tragedy
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Source
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Jpg file. The British Museum. 11/9/2025. https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1868-0822-3113
The Spectator