Lachrymae
Leighton’s nickname, Jupiter Olympus, reflects his passion for the ancient Greek and Roman world. He derived this painting’s title from the Latin word for “tears.” The theme of sorrow is represented by a woman in dark robes standing beside a memorial with a withered wreath at her feet. Behind her is a cypress, a symbol of mourning and immortality, backlit by a funeral bonfire or a sunset. Emphatic vertical lines structure the composition and its frame, which Leighton designed.
Artwork Details
- Title: Lachrymae
- Artist: Frederic, Lord Leighton (British, Scarborough 1830–1896 London)
- Date: 1894–95
- Medium: Oil on canvas
- Dimensions: 62 x 24 3/4 in. (157.5 x 62.9 cm)
- Classification: Paintings
- Credit Line: Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Collection, Wolfe Fund, 1896
- Object Number: 96.28
- Curatorial Department: European Paintings
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