Ulysses and Argus | Briton Rivière | 1885 Select Size:10" x 8" he wears a polished steel

he wears a polished steel gorget—a piece of armor that

peace and turmoil—may reflect Csontváry’s own psychological struggles and philosophical views on human nature

while the composition itself documents one of the city’s early public Christmas tree celebrations—a moment when seasonal tradition and metropolitan energy intersected in a uniquely American holiday tableau

suggests a critique of misguided spirituality or clerical complicity in perpetuating folly

Ulysses and Argus | Briton Rivière | 1885 Select Size:10" x 8" he wears a polished steelAbout the artwork: In Ulysses and Argus, Briton Rivire depicts one of the most poignant moments from Homers Odyssey. After twenty years of war and wandering, Ulysses returns to Ithaca disguised as a beggar, unrecognized by everyone except Argus, the faithful dog he left behind. Old, neglected, and too weak to rise, Argus looks up at his master with quiet recognition, while Ulysses bows his head and suppresses his emotion to protect his disguise.