De Sophos lesbia: que sue poeta · Centre for Early Modern Visual Culture

Title: De Sophos lesbia: que sue poeta
Period: 1450-1500;
Geographic: Ancient Greece; Lesbos
Description: This engraving depicts Sappho, the famous poetess from Lesbos, sitting in the foreground while playing the lyre. We know that this is Sappho as her name is engraved beside her head. There are other stringed instruments and sheet music surrounding her. Sappho was in love with a man (depicted on the right-hand side of the engraving) who did not share the mutual feelings. Boccaccio explains that this is the reason as to why her poems and music verses were so somber.
Image Creator: Anonymous (Engraver)
Type: Text; Woodcut Engraving
Identifier: mta:16669
Language: spa
Source Name: De Las Mujeres Ilustres [On Famous Women]
Parent Collection: 1494 Mujeres Ilustres; 1494 Mujeres Ilustres
Image: mta_16669_OBJ.png
Collection: Early Modern Women
Subject: Famous Women; Poetry; Lyre; Sappho; Important Women