Anne-Marie Lecoq's 'Le Bouclier d'Achille' Explores the Mythic Shield
Anne-Marie Lecoq's book 'Le Bouclier d'Achille' (published by Gallimard in the 'Art et artistes' collection) delves into the myth of Achilles' shield as described in Homer's Iliad. The shield, forged by Hephaestus, is the earliest and most prestigious of fabulous artifacts representing the entire universe. Lecoq traces how this impossible object has inspired centuries of thought, from ekphrasis to Borges' 'Aleph'. The book combines erudition with a fantastical inquiry, examining how the shield has been interpreted as a talisman uniting art and magic. Philippe Forest's review in artpress highlights Lecoq's convincing conclusion that the shield embodies the archaic and eternal alliance of art with magic, symbolized by the union of Hephaestus and Aphrodite.
Key facts
- Anne-Marie Lecoq authored 'Le Bouclier d'Achille'.
- Published by Gallimard in the 'Art et artistes' collection.
- The book explores the myth of Achilles' shield from Homer's Iliad.
- The shield was forged by Hephaestus and described in nearly 150 verses.
- The shield is considered the earliest example of ekphrasis.
- Lecoq compares the shield to Borges' 'Aleph'.
- The book concludes the shield is a talisman uniting art and magic.
- Philippe Forest reviewed the book for artpress.
Entities
Artists
- Anne-Marie Lecoq
- Philippe Forest
- Homer
- Hephaestus
- Achilles
- Jorge Luis Borges
Institutions
- Gallimard
- artpress
Sources
- artpress —