“The Artist in the Character of Design Listening to the Inspiration of Poetry” is a Neoclassical oil portrait by Angelica Kauffman. Kauffman, who was active in the 18th century, infused her work with the aesthetic principles of Neoclassicism, which emphasized clarity, order, and idealized beauty derived from classical art.
The painting depicts two allegorical female figures in classical attire, symbolizing design and poetry. These personifications are situated in an idyllic landscape with a column and open sky, evoking the serenity and balance typical of the era’s artistic ideals.
The figure representing design is dressed in a flowing white gown, holding a drawing instrument and a sketchbook, which signify her creative role. Meanwhile, the figure symbolizing poetry is adorned in a warm-hued dress complemented by a golden lyre, a traditional attribute associated with poetic and musical inspiration. Their postures and the intimacy of their gazes suggest a harmonious dialogue between the two disciplines. With this work, Kauffman captures the Enlightenment belief in the unity and cooperation of the arts as paths to intellectual and aesthetic enlightenment.
