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Ulysses at the Palace of Circe (Framed)

Wilhelm Schubert van Ehrenberg and Carl Borromäus Andreas Ruthart

The J. Paul Getty Museum

The J. Paul Getty Museum
Los Angeles, United States

Behind a grove of trees, a building looms imposingly. The painting depicts a story taken from Homer's Odyssey, in which the sorceress Circe encounters the warrior Ulysses. Descending the palace stairs on the left, Circe greets Ulysses and offers him a magic potion. Previous to his arrival, the sorceress had given the same potion to Ulysses's men, who were then transformed into wild beasts. On the right, one man sports antlers while another one nearby is horrified to find his head changing into that of a wild boar. Unbeknownst to Circe, however, Ulysses has taken an herbal antidote given to him by Hermes. Ulysses will overcome the sorceress and force her to restore his men to their normal shape.



The tiny figures of Ulysses, Circe, and her entourage are secondary to the magnificently decorated palace, the lush landscape, and the assortment of lively animals. The painting is a collaborative effort of two painters: the Flemish artist Wilhelm Schubert van Ehrenberg, a specialist in depicting architecture, painted the palace and garden house, while the German artist Carl Borromäus Andreas Ruthart was responsible for the naturalistic display of animals in the foreground.

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  • Title: Ulysses at the Palace of Circe (Framed)
  • Creator: Wilhelm Schubert van Ehrenberg, Carl Borromäus Andreas Ruthart
  • Date Created: 1667
  • Physical Dimensions: 88.9 × 121.6 cm (35 × 47 7/8 in.)
  • Type: Painting
  • External Link: Find out more about this object on the Museum website.
  • Medium: Oil on canvas
  • Terms of Use: Open Content
  • Number: 71.PA.20
  • Culture: Flemish
  • Credit Line: The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Brant
  • Creator Display Name: Wilhelm Schubert van Ehrenberg (Flemish, 1630 - about 1676) Animals by Carl Borromäus Andreas Ruthart (German, 1630 - 1703)
  • Classification: Paintings (Visual Works)
The J. Paul Getty Museum

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