Phryne before the Areopagus

作品描述

Phryne Before the Areopagus is an 1861 painting by the French artist Jean-Léon Gérôme. The painting depicts the trial of Phryne, an ancient Greek hetaira (courtesan), who was charged with impiety. Phryne was said to have been acquitted after her defender Hypereides removed her robe and exposed her naked bosom, "to excite the pity of her judges by the sight of her beauty." The artwork is a historical painting that captures a dramatic moment from ancient Greek history, highlighting themes of justice, beauty, and the influence of physical appearance in legal proceedings.