Sapho puella lesbia et poeta · Centre for Early Modern Visual Culture

Title: Sapho puella lesbia et poeta
Period: 1450-1500;
Geographic: Lesbos; Ancient Greece
Description: This engraving depicts Sappho, the famous poetess from Lesbos, on the left side of the engraving while playing the lyre. There are other stringed instruments and sheet music surrounding her. Sappho is also depicted on the right side of the engraving kissing a man. Boccaccio explains that this is the reason as to why her poems and music verses were so somber, as he did not share the mutual love that she had for him.
Image Creator: Anonymous (Engraver)
Type: Text; Woodcut Engraving
Identifier: mta:18166
Language: lat
Source Name: Iohannis Bocacij in librum de claris mulieribus
Parent Collection: 1487 Leuven; 1487 Leuven
Image: mta_18166_OBJ.jpg
Collection: Early Modern Women
Subject: Poetry; Poetess; Lyre; Important Women; Famous Women; Sappho