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Priestess of Delphi
The priestess of the oracle at ancient Delphi, Greece. (1891)
John Collier (1850–1934)
In the painting, “Priestess of Delphi” by The Honorable John Collier, a priestess – the Pythia – is depicted in a trance state, seated over a fissure in the rock through which vapors rise from the underground stream. In her left hand is a sprig of laurel – in Greek mythology, Apollo’s sacred tree – and in the other hand a bowl meant to hold some of the water from the stream containing the gases.British artist and writer John Maler Collier (1850-1934) was born in London and painted in the Classicist and Pre-Raphaelite styles. He studied under Sir Edward Poynter in Paris and was influenced by the work of Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema and Sir John Everett Millais. During his lifetime he was named an Officer of the British Empire (OBE) – granting him the title “Honorable” – and was one of the 24 founding members of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters established in 1891.
It was just steam from an underground river? Wasn’t it subterranean vapors from prehistoric times…and where the serpent Python lurked? I thought she was getting high off some kind of toxic sludge. And, the bowl was either a hallucinogenic brew to keep her “heady” and hydrated or a collection plate. I think visitors were expected to place offerings before them (to keep them fed) not unlike modern monks/gurus/mystics sitting outside temples in rags. I think the tree branch–if they used one–was to cast curses/blessings as they foretold (or if the visitor disrespected them).
Anyway, that’s a fine yet spooky painting. ‘First I’ve ever seen of an oracle by the vapors/tripod.