The Face That Launched A Thousand Ships

I keep thinking about Helen of Troy today. Perhaps it's because of this old post that I read earlier in the morning. So much has been said and written about her beauty, it's always interesting to see how people have imagined her throughout the ages.

Detail of an Attic red-figure crater, ca. 450–440 BC, found in Gnathia (now Egnazia, Italy). Menelaus intends to strike Helen; struck by her beauty, he drops his swords. A flying Eros and Aphrodite (on the left) watch the scene.

 

The Love of Helen and Paris (detail) is Jacques-Louis David's work from 1788.

Dante Gabriel Rossetti's Helen of Troy is from 1863.

Helen on the Ramparts of Troy, by Gustave Moreau (1826-1898).

This is Helen of Troy by Evelyn de Morgan (1898).

I found this on Etsy, it's an antique 1950 illustration, at FrenchFrouFrou.

And this is called 'The Private Life of Helen of Troy', a giclee canvas print by cheeseboyproducts, a reproduction of a cover of a vintage paperback.

There are so many more depictions of Helen in art. I just put together the ones I liked best. Have a great rest of the weekend!