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Sarah Siddons as the Tragic Muse (1784)
Joshua Reynolds (1723-92)
oil on canvas, 94 1/4 x 58 1/8 inches
One of the great actresses of the Georgian stage, Sarah Siddons was also one of the most frequently portrayed. Here, Reynolds, who was then the President of the Royal Academy, employs a variety of visual effects and references to convey the dramatic power of this tragedian.
Painted in rich but somber tones that contribute to the sublimity of the image, Siddons is shown seated in a grand chair that seems to float on a cloud. She looks upward, as if divinely inspired. Her pose is borrowed from one of Michelangelo's prophets in the Sistine ceiling. In the background, behind the seated actress, stand shadowy figures, representing Pity and Terror who hold the attributes (dagger and cup respectively) of Melpomene, the muse of tragedy.
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