Lachrymae  1895

Leighton’s nickname, "Jupiter Olympus," reflected his passion for classical antiquity and his status as a titan of British art. This work, made the near end of his life, takes its title from the Latin word for "tears." The woman’s grief is symbolized by the withered wreath, setting sun, and cypresses, traditional emblems of mourning. A review of the 1895 Royal Academy exhi...