Oedipus before the sphynx

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EDIP BEFORE A SPHYNX oil on canvas 1,0 * 0,8 ל 1991 ד.

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In the Greek mythology Sphynx (the half-woman, half-lioness), lived on a rock near Thebes; set to passers-by a unsoluble riddle and then, not having received the answer, devoured them. A riddle has solved Edip (the future tsar of Thebes) then the Sphynx has rushed from a rock.

Works BY artist I.Faizulline are allegorical. It is not necessary to search in his works of action of concrete events (exception - historical). In a picture the Egyptian statue of the Sphynx with a beaten off nose (the nose has been beaten off by arabs, soldiers of Napoleon have completed this barbarous business, having shot her from guns. Before a statue - the future tsar of Thebes Edip who has guessed a riddle. In a cave - a tomb of pharaon Ramzesa. The lion and a lioness - attribute of the artist (he is Lion on a horoscope) and very much loves this strong and beautiful animal. The sphynx in imagination of the artist is a universal symbol of power, titanic beauty, a symbol of eternity (an inscription on a stone hieroglyphs "Eternity"), and the person on this background fragile and defenceless.