Tristan and Iseult

Tristan and Iseult

Art

This is a painting depicting the mythical lovers Tristan and Iseult. After her fiance is killed, Tristan is sent to retrieve Iseult from Ireland for his uncle, king of Cornwall, to marry. However, along the way they fall in love and though Iseult still marries Mark, she and Tristan continue a relationship. This painting depicts Iseult reaching out to Tristan on a mostly blank background, but with a sword laying on the ground between them, signifying Iseult's slain fiance, and a blade-like design in the background with an image of oarsmen reflected in it. She has a bowl in her hand, which signifies the love potion that factored into the myth, although different versions have it come into play in different ways.

Emma Moore

Emma Moore