Oedipus and the Sphinx
Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres · 1808
Why it's great
A young man faces a monster with a woman's head and a lion's body, who asks riddles of travelers. In the Greek legend, Oedipus solved the riddle and saved the city of Thebes. Ingres painted it as a student in Rome. It's a young artist's tribute to classical stories.
Where to see it
📍 Louvre MuseumParis, France
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Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:
These links open search results on each shop's own website; we don't sell anything or earn a commission, and print quality varies by seller. Ask a grown-up before you buy anything.
Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres was born in Montauban, in southern France, and trained under David in Paris. He spent many years in Italy and in the end died in Paris. He believed in the power of clean, elegant outlines and was a master of portraits. He was also a fine violin player, and the phrase 'Ingres's violin' came to mean a talented hobby.
