In this picture Gustave Dore, a very famous French artist considered one of the greatest painters of his time, displays the Princess Circe in the process of transforming Odysseus’ soldiers into pigs. Furthermore, the Princess Circe is portrayed as a graceful and beautiful woman, with long curly hair and delicate facial factions. On the other hand, we have the pigs, who are in fact Odysseus’ soldiers already converted into animals. It is difficult to know if all of them are pigs since the shape of the heads of some creatures look like wolves. However, we can identify some of them by the shape of their teeth and paws. We can also appreciate the process of transformation as it happens on one of the men, who appears to be struggling against the poison to remain “normal” after being a victim of Circe’s charm and poisoned sweet red wine.
Allori Alessandro is the artist responsible for the following picture. In contrast to the first image, this picture shows the Princess Circe as a more provocative figure, that besides beauty, displays sexual attraction as a tool to manipulate her “guests”. In addition, this painting also shows the fragment of the epic where Hermes intercepts Odysseus (who was on his way to Circe’s palace) to give him an antidote and a piece of advice to survive Circes’ poison and tricks respectively. On the background of this image, we can also see some of Odysseus soldiers, who look distressed and fearful as they try to defend from no apparent threat near them.
To my perception, this is the image that agrees the most to the mental image I created at first when I read this part of the epic. However, it’s not quite the same. The flower that Hermes gives Odysseus is white. Furthermore, we don’t have a single pig in the image even though all of Odysseus soldiers sent to the recognition round were converted into pigs.
Out of the two paintings of Circe I preferred Gustave Dore, mainly because it came pretty close to what I imagined Circe would be like. If you were to take a portrait shot of her you can imagine her as a beautiful and perhaps kind goddess. However, when you zoom out and see the whole frame you realize that she is a terrifying and powerful goddess. Also the animals in this painting appear more animal like, since some of the wolves and pigs seem to be snarling at each other.
On the other hand Allori Alessandro painting seems a bit more calmer, in fact Circe looks a little bored and the animals appear to be more controlled. If someone didn’t read the Odyssey and just looked at this painting. It would be hard to believe she is an evil sorceress.
Hi Fausto,
These are well-chosen images, and you offer a very thoughtful analysis of them. I’m particularly struck with your attention to the detail, in the Doré, of the man struggling to maintain human posture even as he is being turned into a pig. (Btw, these pigs look like wolves I think because they are European wild boars–which are covered in bristles and often have tusks).
I was surprised that the Allori image more closely aligned to your mental picture of the Circe scenes in the Odyssey–but you’re right, the figure of the enchantress is far frankly sexual here. I wonder if the charm of the landscape doesn’t also lend to her appeal. Do you think the two animals pictured–lions and some kind of dog (?)–used to be human?
Best,
Prof Kolb