Circe Enchants Ulysses’ Sailors

Copied Paul Manship, Circe Enchants Ulysses' Sailors, 1957, bronze on wood base, 5 1⁄2 x 6 1⁄2 in. (14.0 x 16.5 cm) diam., Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Paul Manship, 1966.47.60

Artwork Details

Title
Circe Enchants Ulysses’ Sailors
Artist
Date
1957
Location
Dimensions
5 1⁄2 x 6 1⁄2 in. (14.0 x 16.5 cm) diam.
Credit Line
Bequest of Paul Manship
Mediums
Mediums Description
bronze on wood base
Classifications
Subjects
  • Animal — pig
  • Mythology — classical — Circe
  • Figure female — full length
  • Figure female — nude
Object Number
1966.47.60
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1966.47.60

Artwork Description

Paul Manship created many sculptures of mythical characters and often chose to illustrate a particular moment in a legend rather than a general theme or symbol. This sculpture shows a scene from the story of Ulysses, a Greek leader in the Trojan War. When Ulysses and his men stopped at an island in search of food, the sorceress Circe captured the crew and turned them into pigs. Ulysses saved his men with the help of a special herb that countered Circe’s magic. Manship chose not to show the hero Ulysses and instead depicted Circe surrounded by the enslaved sailors.