Claude Lorrain (1600-1682) after, by Dominique Barrière (1618-1678) - Ulisse rende Criseide a Crise sacerdote d'Apollo libro primo d'Homero

Beautiful, clean impression on Japan paper.

Seaport with Ulysses returning Chryseis to her father, with figures on shore in the foreground, some unloading boats; beyond, at right, palace with porticos; at centre, a ship sailing away. 1664

The original painting is in the Louvre, Paris.

Bibliographic references
Röthlisberger 1961 / Claude Lorrain: the paintings (80)
Robert-Dumesnil 1835-71 / Le Peintre-Graveur Français (III.84.186)
IFF / Inventaire du Fonds Français: Bibliothèque Nationale, Département des Estampes (97)

(British Museum)

In the first book of the Iliad, during the distribution of the booty, she was given to Agamemnon as a sex slave by unanimous decision, in view of his kingly office. He bragged that he preferred her as a bed-mate to his wife Clytemnestra, because of her figure, her grace, and her skill at domestic tasks. Her father, the priest of Apollo, came to the Achaeans' beachhead bearing the god's sacred symbols and offered the Mycenaean king and his army gifts of gold and silver.Although the other warriors were eager to accept the ransom, Agamemnon rejected it. He treated the old man without the proper respect due to a priest, taunting him crassly with the image of the girl forever sharing his bed in distant Achaea, and sending him away rudely with threats of violence. Chryses, afraid, went apart and prayed on the beach for revenge. Apollo heard his prayer and, by means of his silver arrows, sent a plague sweeping through the Greek armies, so that Agamemnon was forced to give Astynome back in order to save his men from the disease. He sent Odysseus to return the maiden to Chryses. Agamemnon compensated himself for this loss by taking Briseis from Achilles. The offended Achilles refused to take further part in the Trojan War.

Condition is good. An old tape stain is coming through on the top middle. Early nineteenth century impression from the original plate.