‘Fatidica’ 1894
Lord Leighton (1830 – 1896)
Oil on canvas
153 x 111cm
Fatidica (or Fauna or Fatua) was a Roman goddess renowned for her prophetic
powers that she used on behalf of women. She is shown sitting in a silver
chair, her pale face and its abstracted expression suggesting that she
is brooding over the future.
This type of figure is plainly influenced, in its pose, heavy drapery
and full figure, by the Prophets and Sybyls of Michelangelo’s Sistine
Chapel ceiling. When it was exhibited, however, Leighton's
‘Fatidica’ received largely cool and unenthusiastic reviews.
Perhaps classical exercises like this no longer interested the public
so much in the 1890s.
An extended
study of 'Fatidica' is also available online as part of our Artwork
of the Month series.
In this section
Back to the top
|
