Pintoricchio’s ‘Penelope with the Suitors’
Picture of the month July 2026
Why does 'The Odyssey' keep being retold? Dr Emily Hauser explores this 500-year-old painting which tells the entire epic in a single scene.
The story of The Odyssey has been retold for centuries, inspiring films, books and paintings. This work from 1509 offers an unmistakably Renaissance version of Homer’s ancient tale.
In ‘Penelope with the Suitors’, Italian artist Pintoricchio cleverly weaves the entire story into a single scene. Ancient historian and author Dr Emily Hauser explores this 500-year-old painting, uncovering the hidden details within it.
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