The Homeric epics have, over the centuries, inspired many important writers and artists. One of them was the Polish painter, illustrator and poet, Jan Styka (1858–1925).
Styka was renowned for his paintings depicting historical battles and religious subjects. Among other works, he painted 83 canvases depicting the most significant scenes and heroes of the Odyssey. His style was a synthesis of Academic Realism, Romanticism and Symbolism, deeply influenced by the Orientalist movement. The result, with its detailed figures, the use of stark contrasts in lighting and the romantic rendering of nature, stands out for its realism as well as its sensuality.
The paintings from the Odyssey appeared in the deluxe French edition of the epic in Paris in 1920, featuring Eugène Bareste’s earlier translation.
The selected paintings depict the poet invoking the Muse and some of the most iconic scenes from the Odyssey: Odysseus’s encounter with Nausicaa, the blinding of Polyphemus, the Sirens, the slaying of the suitors, and the recognition of Odysseus and Penelope.
