# Odysseus and Circe

[View the canonical artwork record](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/bray-salomon-de-r59c007f44ff074/odysseus-and-circe-rd5f2e48bb8bef9>)

## Artwork

- Artist: [BRAY, Salomon de](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/bray-salomon-de-r59c007f44ff074>)
- Date: 1601-1650
- Technique: Oil on canvas, 11 x 92 cm

## Commentary

De Bray based his picture directly on Homer&#39;s Odyssey. Circe is a sorceress whom Odysseus encountered on his wanderings. The Greek hero and his companions came to Circe&#39;s island on their journey home after the Trojan war. It was her way with travellers to feast them on viands containing a magic potion which turned them into pigs. This was the fate of some of Odysseus&#39; companions. But he himself, forewarned by Mercury, touches neither food nor drink. This is the scene Salomon de Bray depicted. &lt;P&gt; &lt;TABLE ALIGN=LEFT CELLPADDING=5 BORDER=1 WIDTH=320 BGCOLOR=&#34;\#99CCCC&#34;&gt; &lt;TR VALIGN=MIDDLE&gt;&lt;TD&gt;&lt;IMG SRC=&#34;/support/gif/listen.gif&#34; BORDER=0 VALIGN=MIDDLE&gt; Suggested listening \(streaming mp3, 13 minutes\):&lt;BR&gt;&lt;A HREF=&#34;\#&#34; onClick=&#34;w=window.open \(&#39;/music1/17\_cent/monteverdi\_ulisse.html&#39;, &#39;newWin&#39;, &#39;scrollbars=yes,status=no,dependent=yes,screenX=0,screenY=0,width=350,height=350&#39;\);w.opener=this;w.focus\(\);return true&#34;&gt;&lt;B&gt;Claudio Monteverdi: Il ritorno d&#39;Ulisse, Act I, Duet of Odysseus and Pallas Athene&lt;/B&gt;&lt;/A&gt; &lt;/TD&gt;&lt;/TR&gt;&lt;/TABLE&gt;

## Related artworks

- [Book and Picture Shop](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/bray-salomon-de-r59c007f44ff074/book-and-picture-shop-r840794e1984db7>)
- [Design for sculpture](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/bray-salomon-de-r59c007f44ff074/design-for-sculpture-r30036847c77a94>)
- [Eliezer and Rebecca](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/bray-salomon-de-r59c007f44ff074/eliezer-and-rebecca-r03a4be041fb4bd>)
- [Eliezer and Rebecca](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/bray-salomon-de-r59c007f44ff074/eliezer-and-rebecca-rcb85814186b3d5>)
- [Eliezer and Rebecca](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/bray-salomon-de-r59c007f44ff074/eliezer-and-rebecca-ree724b947cff16>)
- [Eliezer and Rebecca](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/bray-salomon-de-r59c007f44ff074/eliezer-and-rebecca-rf1ea8d3013f187>)
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- [Joseph Receives His Father and Brothers in Egypt](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/bray-salomon-de-r59c007f44ff074/joseph-receives-his-father-and-brothers-in-egypt-r6fb22fe4ad6d46>)
- [Judith Delivering the Head of Holofernes](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/bray-salomon-de-r59c007f44ff074/judith-delivering-the-head-of-holofernes-rc6a38e67ffd093>)
- [Madonna with Angels and Shepherds](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/bray-salomon-de-r59c007f44ff074/madonna-with-angels-and-shepherds-ref6eb269c1e9e4>)
- [The Twins Clara and Aelbert de Bray](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/bray-salomon-de-r59c007f44ff074/the-twins-clara-and-aelbert-de-bray-r8141b6d6f0dcab>)
- [Triumphal Procession with Musicians](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/bray-salomon-de-r59c007f44ff074/triumphal-procession-with-musicians-r23d45adda196f3>)

## Attribution

[Web Gallery of Art](<https://beta.wga.hu/pages/about>)