Sacrifice of Iphigenia

Art Historical Context

Philippe Joseph Tassaert’s *Sacrifice of Iphigenia* (1766) captures a pivotal moment from Greek mythology, in which Agamemnon prepares to sacrifice his daughter to appease the goddess Artemis.ed in pen and black with layered black and gray washes over graphite, the drawing uses subtle tonal gradations to heighten the emotional tension of the scene. The warm tan paper enhances the dramatic contrasts, allowing the artist to suggest both the solemnity of the ritual and the human cost of divine demands. Measuring roughly 40 by 48 centimeters, this work on laid paper exemplifies the refined draftsmanship prized in eighteenth-century Europe. Wash techniques like those employed here were valued for their ability to convey atmosphere and movement, turning a preparatory medium into a finished narrative piece. Now in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago’s Prints and Drawings department, the drawing offers visitors a vivid glimpse of how classical stories continued to inspire artists long after antiquity.