Hypatia c1889
Hypatia c1889 by Swedish Painter Julius Kronberg (1850 – 1921); known for his decorative artwork
This is a portrait of the noted Greek Neoplatonist philosopher, astronomer, and mathematician Hypatia (between 350 & 370 – 415 AD); who lived in Alexandria, Egypt, that was ruled by the Eastern Roman Empire.
She was a prominent thinker and teacher of philosophy, mathematics and astronomy of the Neoplatonic school in Alexandria; and is the first female mathematician who’s life has been reasonably documented, even though she was preceded by Pandrosion of Alexandria.
In this scene we see her in a room by a large open window resting her left closed fist hand on a marble ledge, and resting her right forearm on a black bust of Greek Philosopher Plato (428/427 or 424/423 BCE – 348/347 BCE), holding a scroll and quill in her right hand.
Beside her on her right are more scrolls situated upright on a marble table and a large green plant that stretches to where she is seated by the wall of the window that has a decorative motif and two figures on it of a man that is a hunter and a woman, that seems to be seeking protection.
She is looking out of the window past the column that is near her left hand, that overlooks the city of Alexandria and a Christian procession that is taking place as pilgrims carrying crosses walk to a large temple in the distance.
This is a remastered digital art old masters reproduction of a public domain image that is available as a canvas print online.
The Below Information Is Derived From Wikipedia.org
Julius from an early age demonstrated a talent for art, and at the age of 13 was admitted to the Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts located in Stockholm; and by the age of 20 secured a gold medal for his portrayal of Gustav Vasa (Gustav Eriksson or Gustav I 1496 – 1560), receiving a new translation of the Bible.
Julius under the Swedish historical, genre and portrait Painter Johan Christoffer Boklund (1817 – 1880), as well as Swedish historical painter Johan Fredrik Höckert (1826 -1866).
When he was 23 years old he was able to secure a travel scholarship, which allowed him to visit Copenhagen, Düsseldorf and Paris; he was also able to visit Venice and Munich, where he spent a considerable amount of time and became interested in decorative painting.
Then in 1876 his painting Nymph and Faun received praise from the Swedish playwright, novelist, poet, essayist and painter August Strindberg (1849 – 1912); which led to him becoming an Agre at the Swedish Royal Academy.
In 1889 he moved back to Sweden; settling in Stockholm, where he opened a studio in Norra Djurgården (an island in central Stockholm), where he specialized in architectural paintings, using motifs that were usually based on mythology, the Bible and the works of playwright, poet, and actor William Shakespeare (1564 – 1616).
