Euterpe, Muse of Poetry
1892
Step into the world of Greek mythology with Euterpe, the Muse of music and lyric poetry, depicted here in a style that lovingly copies the Italian Renaissance. She stands barefoot in a flowing peach gown, playing a double flute known as an aulos while the wind dramatically whips her long blonde hair and red cloak around her. Godfried Guffens created this piece in 1892 during the Academic art movement, which was famous for its polished, idealized figures. He even painted a fake stone frame around the scene (a trick called trompe-l'oeil) to make it look like an ancient fresco discovered on a wall, complete with a Latin scroll at her feet identifying her name.