life-imitates-art-far-more:Benjamin West (1738-1820)“Erasistratus the Physician Discovers theLove of
life-imitates-art-far-more:Benjamin West (1738-1820)“Erasistratus the Physician Discovers theLove of Antiochus for Stratonice” (1772)Oil on canvasLocated in the Birmingham Museum of Art, Birmingham, Alabama, United StatesThe painting depicts tells the story of Seleucus, the king of Syria, who has summoned the Greek physician Erasistratus to diagnose a mysterious ailment afflicting his son Antiochus. After observing the prince’s behavior, the doctor concludes that Antiochus is suffering from unrequited love. West depicts the moment when Erasistratus—taking Antiochus’s pulse—discovers that Antiochus longs for his own stepmother, Stratonice. According to legend, the king gave his wife to his beloved son, saving his life. -- source link