Painted for Louis XVI. Exhibited at the Salons of 1789 and 1791. Part of Louis XVI's collection. Restored by Lucien Aubert in 1969.
‘Zeuxis Choosing the Most Beautiful Women from Croton as His Models’ was painted by a renowned French neoclassical painter by the name Francois-Andre Vincent in 1789. During the 1770s and 1780s, Vincent was a leading innovator in French art, both in terms of Neoclassical style and national historical themes. He drew his stylistic inspirations from the art of classical antiquity, the works of the Italian High Renaissance, and the renowned Bolognese artists of the 17th century, all of which served as significant influences in his paintings. ‘Zeuxis Choosing the Most Beautiful Women from Croton as His Models’ became one of his most celebrated paintings. It is an oil on canvas history painting, which depicts Zeuxis, an ancient Greek painter, choosing a model to represent Helen of Troy from among the women of the Crotone settlement. The scene is arranged within the confines of the artist’s studio, where a group of female models have gathered, as Zeuxis makes observations to select a model. The models are depicted in various ways, with some glancing away while others looking at Zeuxis. This offers a variety of perspectives on the female form. Furthermore, Vincent’s painting is marked by the use of delicate colours and soft lighting, offering elegance to the painting. The rich drapery is executed beautifully by Vincent on both the male and female figures. The painting offers insight into the mind of Vincent and how he approached history painting in the late 18th century.
In Zeuxis Choosing the Most Beautiful Women from Croton as His Models, Zeuxis is shown examining multiple women to find the ideal model to represent Helen of Troy. It is difficult for him to choose a single woman as each of them possesses a unique beauty that charms him. The painting therefore suggests that beauty cannot be found in a single individual but is composed of different qualities found in many people. The varied expressions of the women further emphasize the subjective nature of beauty. At the same time the painting raises questions about the role of an artist, who holds the power to define beauty through his art. The delicate colours, soft lighting and rich drapery enhance the painting's gracefulness and elegance.
