This painting, by the Italian/American artist, Joseph Fagnani (1819–1873), presents a Muse from ancient Greek and Roman mythology. Muses were the daughters of the high-god, Zeus, and the goddess, Mnemosyne (Memory), and they served as inspiring patron goddesses of arts, sciences and creativity. The names of the muses were believed to have first been listed by the poet, Hesiod (c. 8th century BCE), who stated, “the Muses sang, who dwell in Olympus, the nine daughters born of great Zeus, Clio and Euterpe and Thaleia and Melpomene, Terpsichore and Erato and Polyhymnia and Urania, and Calliope, who is chief among them all” (Hesiod, Theogony, approximately lines 76-79). Of the Muses included in Hesiod’s list, this particular painting by Joseph Fagnani features the specific Muse, Polyhymnia (also known as Polymnia).
Although the names of the Muses were largely set in stone by the 8th century BCE, it took much longer for each Muse’s area of expertise to be finalized. In some cases, the implied meaning of a Muse’s name led to a quicker association with a specific artistic field. Polyhymnia, for instance, naturally became a patron goddess for writers of hymns. On this connection between Polyhymnia’s name and her creative patronage, a scholar known as Diodorus Siculus (c. 1st century BCE) wrote, “To each of the Muses men assign her special aptitude for one of the branches of the liberal arts, such as poetry, song, pantomimic dancing, the round dance with music, the study of the stars, and the other liberal arts…Polymnia, because by her great (polle) praise (humnesis) she brings distinction to writers whose works have won for them immortal fame” (Diodorus Siculus, Library of History, 4.7). As the quote conveys, Polyhymnia’s patronage extended beyond her specialty of hymns. She also bestowed her musical and literary inspirations on various other kinds of poets and composers who made works of praise. Additionally, as one of the Muses, she was generally a patron goddess for singers, dancers, musicians, and even those involved with pantomime.
Such is the goddess that Joseph Fagnani featured in his painting. He portrays Polyhymnia in her capacity as a goddess of both literature and music. She carries a written text in one hand and has a lyre propped against her knee. Joseph Fagnani, like many other artists, decided to depict Polyhymnia with a thoughtful and pensive demeanor, which was believed to be a proper bearing for a goddess of sacred hymns.
Written by C. Keith Hansley
Sources:
- Theogony and Works and Days by Hesiod, translated by M. L. West. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988, 1999, 2008.
- The Library of History, by Diodorus Siculus, edited by Giles Laurén (Sophron Editor, 2014).
- Metamorphoses by Ovid. Translated by David Raeburn. Penguin Classics; Revised Edition, 2004.
- The Oxford Dictionary of Classical Myth and Religion, edited by Simon Price and Emily Kearns. New York: Oxford University Press, 2003.
- https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/10864
