Erasistratus Discovering the Cause of Antiochus’ Disease (1808)

Alexandre-Charles Guillemot: Erasistratus Discovering the Cause of Antiochus’ Disease

Guillemot (1786-1831) was a Neoclassic painter. This work is a history painting depicting an episode from Plutarch's Lives in which Greek court physician Erasistratus diagnoses the illness of Antiochus, the son of Seleucus I, as lovesickness for his stepmother Stratonice. (A summary of the story is here.) An opera about the incident received its first performance in 1792.

The story of Antiochus and Stratonice was depicted by numerous other artists; below is a sampling.

 Gerard de Lairesse: Antiochus and Stratonice (1671-75)

 

 Antonio Bellucci: Antiochus and Stratonice (ca. 1700)

 

 Johann Heiss: Antiochus and Stratonice (17th century)

  

 Benjamin West: Erasistratus the Physician Discovers the Love of Antiochus for Stratonice

 Jacques-Louis David: Antiochus and Stratonice (1774)