Telemachus is Consoled by Termosiris, Priest of Apollo, from The Adventures of Telemachus, Book 2

About this artwork

These twelve drawings depict scenes from the French novel The Adventures of Telemachus (Les aventures de Télémaque) by François Fénelon. First published in 1699, it was one of the most popular books of the 1700s and 1800s. Telemachus is the son of Ulysses from Homer’s Odyssey, the first four books of which describe the hero’s search for his father. Fénelon invented further adventures for Telemachus, in which he undergoes many trials while accompanied by his tutor, Mentor, who is actually the go...

Art Historical Context

Bartolomeo Pinelli’s 1808 drawing captures a poignant moment from François Fénelon’s influential novel *The Adventures of Telemachus* (1699), a moral and political tale that reimagines the son of Odysseus from Homer’s *Odyssey*. In this scene, the young Telemachus receives consolation from Termosiris, a priest of Apollo, highlighting themes of guidance, loss, and wisdom that resonated deeply with 18th- and 19th-century readers. Pinelli, an Italian artist celebrated for his neoclassical illustrations of classical literature and daily life, brings emotional depth to the encounter through expressive gestures and a balanced composition. Created during the height of neoclassicism, the work reflects the era’s fascination with ancient Greek and Roman ideals, which were seen as models for virtue and education. Fénelon’s book was widely read across Europe, often used to teach young people about leadership and ethics, and Pinelli’s illustrations helped visualize its lessons for new audiences. The drawing’s large scale—nearly two feet wide—suggests it was intended as a finished work rather than a quick sketch. Pinelli employed pen and black ink with layers of gray and brown wash over black chalk, a technique that allowed him to create dramatic contrasts of light and shadow while maintaining delicate line work. This medium, common in the Prints and Drawings department, gives the scene a luminous, almost painterly quality on the ivory-toned paper. Now in the Art Institute of Chicago’s collection, the piece exemplifies how 19th-century artists bridged literature and visual art to make classical stories vivid for contemporary viewers.

About the Artist

Bartolomeo Pinelli · 1781–1835

Bartolomeo Pinelli (1781–1835) was an Italian artist and printmaker who became one of the most popular and prolific chroniclers of Roman popular life in the early nineteenth century. Born in Rome, he trained at the Accademia di San Luca and demonstrated precocious talent in drawing and sculpture, though it was as an engraver and illustrator that he found his true vocation and his widest audience. ...