Two Muses (Erato and Melpomene) c. 1500 - 1505

Filippino Lippi painted this panel, Two Muses (Erato and Melpomene), in Florence around 1500. The classical subject matter exemplifies the Renaissance revival of ancient Greek and Roman culture and philosophy. The artist seems to be commenting on the nature of artistic inspiration itself, but with an eye to the status of the arts in Florentine society. The Muses were mythological figures who inspired artists. Here, we see Erato, the Muse of lyric poetry, and Melpomene, the Muse of tragedy, in a moment of collaboration or contemplation. The sculpture in the background symbolizes the idea of classical inspiration. The pedestal on which the women lean may have specific institutional associations. It looks like an altar, but with the inscription 'DESIDERIO'. Was this painting commissioned for a particular academy or philosophical association? Was it a gift? Such questions can be answered by art historians who look not just at the painting itself, but also at the historical and social context in which it was made. In this way we can come to a better understanding of the artwork's meaning and how it reflects the world around it.