Romantical image of Iphigenia (Post-Homeric Greek myth),leaned to a balustrade and looked longingly on the far sea by sunset , this motive was described by Euripides and through centuries by Johann Wolfgang Goethe . Also famous painters depicted Iphigenia in their works. Most famous are two paintings "Iphigenia" by Anselm Feuerbach (1829-1880), dated 1862 and 1871 (for images see additional photos). In Greek mythology Iphigenia was a daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra. In Attic accounts,Iphigenia is sometimes called a daughter of Theseus and Helen raised by Agamemnon and Clytemnestra. The name means "strong-born", though more literally "born to strength". About this myth see folowing link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iphigenia

Our painting was executed in 1855 by very renown Italian historical, portrait and battle painter Cesare Bartolena (1830 - Livorno - 1903). His works were purchased at the time by Italian King family and City of Turin. Through reproduce in the famous italian magazines many of Bartolenas works became great popularity . The artist studied a t the first time in Florence by Pollastrini, then took part in the freedom wars from 1848 as volunteer. Afterthem he became portrait painter and since 1859 - as battle artist (historical war scenes and soldier genre ).His anekdotic-novellistic soldier genre scenes were introduced through Edmondo De Amicis to the Italian literature. Thus he fed the Milan exhibition in 1872 with the extensive painting " La partenza dei volontari livornesi by la guerra liberatrice della Sicilia" (now in the Pinacoteca Municipale to Livorno) and in 1886 with the painting " La morte del generale Cosimo del Fante".

Literature: Comanducci "I pittori italiani dell`ottocento"(Italaian artist lexicon); Thieme/Becker "Allgemeines Lexikon der bildenden Künstler von der Antike bis zur Gegenwart".

Inscription: signed and dated lower left "Cesare Bartolena, 1855", on the reverse of canvas lower in the middle inscribed and dated : " Cesare Bartolena fecit , Livorno, 1853".

Technique: oil on canvas. Luxuriousy original period gold-plated frame .

Measurements: unframed 28 1/4 " x 33 3/4" (72x 86 cm), framed 40 1/2" x 46 " (103 x 117 cm)

Condition: very good