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Ariadne

After John Vanderlyn American
ca. 1831–35
Not on view
Before becoming a painter, Durand was considered the foremost engraver in the United States. His usual procedure was to first produce a copy in oil of the work to be engraved. Ariadne is one such example after a history painting by John Vanderlyn (1809–14; Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia). Ariadne, a Cretan princess abandoned on the island of Naxos by her lover Theseus, is shown asleep, unaware of his departure. Durand’s copy modified Vanderlyn’s crisp Neoclassical style, infusing the figure—one of the first nudes ever exhibited in this country—with a romantic softness that emphasized its sensuality.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Ariadne
  • Artist: Asher Brown Durand (American, Jefferson, New Jersey 1796–1886 Maplewood, New Jersey)
  • Artist: After John Vanderlyn (American, Kingston, New York 1775–1852 Kingston, New York)
  • Date: ca. 1831–35
  • Culture: American
  • Medium: Oil on canvas
  • Dimensions: 17 1/8 x 19 3/8 in. (43.5 x 49.2 cm)
  • Credit Line: Gift of Samuel P. Avery, 1897
  • Object Number: 97.29.2
  • Curatorial Department: The American Wing

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