Antique Painting The Nymphs Burning Telemachus' Ship XVIII Century

Oil on canvas. The scene depicts an episode from the 17th-century novel "Les Aventures de Télémaque" (The Adventures of Telemachus) by François Fénelon, published in 1699. In Fénelon's tale, Telemachus (son of Ulysses), while searching for his father accompanied by Mentor (who disguises himself as the goddess Athena), is shipwrecked on the island of Calypso and falls in love with a nymph. To prevent Telemachus from leaving the island and abandoning the girl, the goddess Calypso, who has taken them in, orders her nymphs to burn the ship on which Telemachus and Mentor had arrived. In the painting presented, in the left foreground, Mentor urges the young Telemachus to turn away, while he is still gazing at the girl standing on the path to the right; meanwhile, the other nymphs set fire to the boat, stranded on the shore, with their torches. The canvas, previously relined, has several paint losses. It is presented in a period frame.

The item is in good condition, with minor signs of wear. We try to present the item's actual condition as accurately as possible with the photos. If any details are unclear from the photos, the description will apply.