---
title: Sappho and Alcaeus (Painting)
author: Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/17327/sappho-and-alcaeus-painting/
format: machine-readable-alternate
updated: 2023-04-26
---

# Sappho and Alcaeus (Painting)

_Authored by Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema_

## Image File

[![Sappho and Alcaeus (Painting)](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/17327.jpg)](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/17327.jpg)

## Image Caption

*[Sappho](https://www.worldhistory.org/Sappho_of_Lesbos/) and Alcaeus*, oil on panel by Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, 1881. The painting illustrates a passage by the ancient [Greek](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/greek/) poet Hermesianax (active c. 330 BCE) depicting a scene on the island of [Lesbos](https://www.worldhistory.org/lesbos/) (Mytilene) during the late 7th century BCE, where Sappho and her companions are enraptured by the performance of the poet Alcaeus playing a [kithara](https://www.worldhistory.org/Kithara/). Alma-Tadema made an effort to maintain authenticity by replicating the marble seating of the Theater of [Dionysos](https://www.worldhistory.org/Dionysos/) in [Athens](https://www.worldhistory.org/Athens/). Nevertheless, he replaced the names of the officials incised on the Athenian prototype with those of members of Sappho's sorority.

The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore.

## Bibliography

- [Sappho and Alcaeus | The Walters Art Museum](https://art.thewalters.org/detail/10245/sappho-and-alcaeus/ "Sappho and Alcaeus | The Walters Art Museum"), accessed 24 Apr 2023.

## Cite This Work

### APA
Alma-Tadema, S. L. (2023, April 26). Sappho and Alcaeus (Painting). *World History Encyclopedia*. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/17327/sappho-and-alcaeus-painting/>
### Chicago
Alma-Tadema, Sir Lawrence. "Sappho and Alcaeus (Painting)." *World History Encyclopedia*, April 26, 2023. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/17327/sappho-and-alcaeus-painting/>.
### MLA
Alma-Tadema, Sir Lawrence. "Sappho and Alcaeus (Painting)." *World History Encyclopedia*, 26 Apr 2023, <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/17327/sappho-and-alcaeus-painting/>.

## License & Copyright

[Original image](https://art.thewalters.org/detail/10245/sappho-and-alcaeus/) by **Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema**. Submitted by [Jan van der Crabben](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/jvdc/ "User Page: Jan van der Crabben"), published on 26 April 2023. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Public Domain](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_domain). This item is in the public domain, and can be used, copied, and modified without any restrictions. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.