The Lament For Icarus By Herbert James Draper
‘The Lament for Icarus’ is an oil painting by Herbert James Draper, made in 1899, in the Victorian Period. It is focused on the Greek myth of Icarus. His father, Daedalus, made wings of wax so that he and Icarus could escape from the island of Crete. However, Icarus flied too close to the sun and the wax melted. He fell down and died. It shows the dead Icarus with spread out wings and surrounded by sea-nymphs who are lamenting his death.
Draper has depicted a tragic end of the flight of Icarus. The body of Icarus appears to melt into the arms of the nymph. Draper uses applied liquid light effects and mostly warm colours. The tanned skin of Icarus refers to its close approach to the sun. The passage of sunlight, a glow, on the distant cliffs
Draper has depicted a tragic end of the flight of Icarus. The body of Icarus appears to melt into the arms of the nymph. Draper uses applied liquid light effects and mostly warm colours. The tanned skin of Icarus refers to its close approach to the sun. The passage of sunlight, a glow, on the distant cliffs