Cymon and Iphigenia (1773)

"Cymon and Iphigenia" (1773) is a work by Benjamin West. The catalogue places it in Mythology. The format is landscape. Mythology in brief: In European academies, history and mythological subjects ranked highest among painting genres, so they often appear on a large scale and with ambitious compositions. Mythological painting draws on stories from Greek and Roman myth, and on other traditions such as Norse, Celtic, and Hindu narrative. Context for 1773: The eighteenth century began with the light, ornamental Rococo, especially in France, and moved towards the clarity and antique references of Neoclassicism by the end of the century. The Enlightenment and the habit of the Grand Tour fed a wider interest in science, travel, antiquity, and natural history, and illustrators accompanied many expeditions.

On onlly.art "Cymon and Iphigenia" is sold as a digital download (Digital JPEG + PDF files, 300 DPI). The files are delivered by email after payment, so nothing is shipped: you print locally, choosing the paper, size, and frame yourself. A landscape format suits wide, low wall spaces such as the stretch above a bed, mantel, or sideboard. Before printing, compare the proportions of the file with your frame so that nothing important is cropped. Screens and printers render colour differently, so a small test print is a sensible way to check tones before committing to a large size. Hang the print away from direct sunlight, which over the years can fade any printed colour. Choosing a standard frame size and printing to fit it often saves the cost of custom framing.

American, 1738–1820

If you like the visual language of Benjamin West, explore more works by the same artist in our collection.