Circe (1885 CE)

Circe (1885), an evocative oil painting by John Collier, captures the enchantress Circe from Homer’s Odyssey in a preraphaelite vision of mythological splendor. Portrayed as a seductive sorceress wielding transformative magic, Circe lies amid symbols of her power, blending beauty with menace. This work draws viewers into the mystical realm of Aiaia, where humans become beasts under her spell, reflecting Victorian fascination with the supernatural and the allure of dangerous femininity.

Painted in 1885 during the Victorian era, Circe emerged in a cultural landscape enamored with classical mythology. John Collier (1850–1934), a British artist trained at the Slade School of Fine Art and influenced by studies in Paris and Munich, created this work at the peak of his career. Exhibited at the Royal Academy in London in 1885, the painting earned positive reviews, signaling its appeal to an audience versed in Greek literature. Inspired by Homer’s Odyssey, where Circe transforms Odysseus’s men into swine before becoming his lover and guide, the painting channels the era’s romanticized view of antiquity while probing themes of power and temptation.

The painting’s depiction of Circe as a femme fatale likely sparked discussion among Victorian viewers, who saw her as both a classical figure and a mirror to contemporary debates on female agency. Collier’s ties to intellectual circles, through his marriage to Marian Huxley, daughter of Thomas Huxley, may have shaped his nuanced portrayal of Circe as a figure of intellect and mystique. 

Circe is a striking example of preraphaelite art, with its detailed realism and romanticized mythology, reflecting Victorian obsession with the ancient world. Circe, a complex figure in Greek mythology, embodies the femme fatale archetype, her beauty and magic symbolizing both seduction and danger. In the Odyssey, she lives on Aiaia, surrounded by tamed wild animals—lions, wolves, and bears—once men she transformed. She lures Odysseus’s crew with a feast, only to turn them into swine with her potions, revealing their base instincts. Her eventual alliance with Odysseus, whom she aids with magical knowledge, underscores her duality as both threat and benefactor. Collier’s painting likely emphasizes this transformative power, using animals or magical symbols to highlight her dominion over nature and humanity. The work engages with Victorian anxieties about female power, casting Circe as a protofeminist figure who defies patriarchal norms. Its preraphaelite style, influenced by artists like John Everett Millais, romanticizes the mythological past, contrasting with industrial modernity.

Circe is an oil painting on canvas, measuring 133 x 219 cm (52.4 x 86.2 inches), a grand scale befitting its mythological subject. The preraphaelite aesthetic features vibrant colors, rich textures, and meticulous detail. Circe is depicted in a relaxed pose with animals—swine and wild cats—symbolizing her transformative magic. The setting, a lush clearing underscores her connection to the untamed natural world, a hallmark of Collier’s technical precision honed in European academies.First displayed at the Royal Academy in 1885, Circe has since entered a private collection in the Netherlands, limiting public access. Its journey from a celebrated exhibit to private ownership mirrors the elusive nature of its subject.