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John Flaxman

Pernicious Dream

Maker

John Flaxman (English, 1755 - 1826)

Title

Pernicious Dream

Year

ca. 1792-1793

Medium

Materials/Techniques

Techniques

Materials

pen and ink

Dimensions

21.6 x 27.9 cm (8 1/2 x 11 inches)

Credit / Object Number

Credit

Gift of Mrs. Gustav Radeke

Object Number

21.126

Type

Publications

Exhibition History

From Dürer to Van Gogh
Gifts from Eliza Greene Radeke and Helen Metcalf Danforth
Jun 05, 2008 – Oct 26, 2008

Label copy

This is one of 39 illustrations for Alexander Pope’s translation of Homer’s Iliad, published in 1793 with engravings after John Flaxman’s designs. The text, “Fly hence deluding Dream! As light as air/ To Agamememnon’s [sic] ample tent repair,” refers to the god Zeus’s sinister decision to send King Agamemnon a false dream and incite battle between the Greeks and Trojans, a battle that Agamemnon’s Greeks would surely lose, or so Zeus thought. Flaxman combines the scene of Zeus on his heavenly throne with the sleeping Agamemnon.

Old Master Drawings
Sep 02, 1983 – Oct 16, 1983
The Age of Canova
Nov 06, 1957 – Dec 15, 1957

Image use

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Public Domain This object is in the Public Domain and available under a CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication

Tombstone

John Flaxman (English, 1755 - 1826)
Pernicious Dream, ca. 1792-1793
Pen and ink with graphite framing lines
21.6 x 27.9 cm (8 1/2 x 11 inches)
Gift of Mrs. Gustav Radeke 21.126

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