Sapphos der Poeten · Centre for Early Modern Visual Culture · Center for Early Modern Visual Culture

Title: Sapphos der Poeten
Period: 1500-1550;
Geographic: Lesbos; Ancient Greece; Aegean Sea
Description: This engraving depicts Sappho, the famous poetess from Lesbos, on the left side of the engraving playing the lyre. There are other stringed instruments and sheet music surrounding her. She was famous for her lyric poetry. Boccaccio explains that Sappho was in love with a man who did not share the mutual feeling, and this is the reason as to why her music and poetry was so somber. The man that she loved is depicted on the right side of the engraving kissing another woman.
Image Creator: Joerg Breu (Engraver)
Type: Text; Woodcut Engraving
Identifier: mta:18339
Language: ger
Source Name: Ein schöne Cronica oder Hystoribuch von den fürnämlichsten Weybern [A beautiful chronicle or history book of reputable women]
Parent Collection: 1543 Stayner; 1543 Stayner
Image: mta_18339_OBJ.png
Collection: Early Modern Women
Subject: Sappho; Important Women; Famous Women; Poetry; Poetess; Lyre