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Terpsichore Lyran (Muse of Lyric Poetry)
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
In Greek mythology, Terpsichore was one of the nine Muses, or goddesses of creative inspiration. The lyre, the Greek inscription on the short column, and the caduceus (entwined snakes) on the side identify the figure as Terpsichore Lyran, muse of lyric poetry. This sculpture began with a commission from Napoleon's brother, Lucien, for an idealized portrait of his wife, Alexandrine. Antonio Canova made this version for a British aristocrat and exhibited it in 1817 at the Royal Academy in London to great acclaim.
Cleveland Museum of Art’s own descriptionCredit lineTerpsichore Lyran (Muse of Lyric Poetry), 1816. Antonio Canova (Italian, 1757–1822). Marble; overall: 177.5 x 78.1 x 61 cm (69 7/8 x 30 3/4 x 24 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund, 1968.212
