MONSIAU, Nicolas-André
(b. 1754, Paris, d. 1837, Paris)

Ulysses Returning to His Palace after Slaying the Lovers of Penelope

1791
Oil on canvas, 97 x 127 cm
Private collection

In this painting the action is played out in a shallow frieze-like space defined by a colonnade parallel to the picture plane. The principal protagonist is placed off-centre, with the figures of the living and dead strewn on either side. Monsiau has placed his group in front of an austere, classical façade.