Clio Muse of History
Clio Muse of History by French Painter Charles Meynier (1763-68 – 1832); of historical and mythological subjects in the late 18th and early19th century.
This is another in a series of the nine muses the Meynier did; this time it features the Muse of History.
She is a Muse with large colorful wings, sitting on a large square stone block with an inscribed stone tablet that is standing vertically on her lap, and that she is holding with her left hand, while holding metal quill in her right hand slightly over the tablet.
She is wearing a laurel wreath on the top of her head a yellow gown and a blue cloth draped over her shoulder and across her lap.
This is a retouched digital art old masters reproduction of a public domain image that is available as a canvas print online.
Around her are the symbols of antiquity, which shows a statue of a seated Egyptian Pharaoh with a smaller Pharaoh Eagle-Owl on the right side.
Behind her to her left is a column and stone wall, and in the far distance, past the terrain of grass and trees we can see a large pyramid.
You can also view his other pieces Calliope, Muse of Epic Poetry c1798 and Polyhymnia, Muse of Eloquence c1800 by following the respective links.
To her front in a gully is a carved stone palette of Greek origin and a bust of what looks like a Greek philosopher.
This is a remastered digital art old masters reproduction of a public domain image that is available as a canvas print online.
Info Below Derived From Wikipedia.org
Meynier was the son of a tailor; and a young age showed a talent for art, and began his training under the mentorship of by French Draughtsman and EngraverPierre-Philippe Choffard *1731 – 1809).
As a student of French Neoclassical and Historical Painter François-André Vincent (1746 – 1816), Meynier won the second prize in the 1789 prix de Rome competition; while Anne-Louis Girodet de Roussy-Trioson took first prize. Four years later in 1793 Meynier returned to Paris.
In 1815 Meynier became a member of the Académie de France à Rome; and during the period between 1819 to 1822, he created the grand decoration for the ceiling’s of the Louvre; as well as creating numerous works that glorified the Napoleonic legend, which for the most part remains in the Château de Versailles.
He also made designs for the bas-reliefs and statues on the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel and the Paris Bourse. From 1816 onward, Meynier was a member of the Académie des Beaux-Arts; and in 1819 he was appointed teacher at the École des Beaux-Arts.
