| Acme and Septimius | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Artist | Frederic Leighton |
| Year | 1868 |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 99 cm diameter (39 in) |
| Location | Ashmolean Museum, Oxford |
Acme and Septimius is an oil painting by Frederic Leighton, first exhibited in 1868. Leighton took the subject from a love poem by the Roman poet Catullus. [1]
In 1868, Leighton was elected Royal Academician, and the Academy had six contributions from his palette which fixed his reputation. [2] His style bore the strong influence of his recent visits to Greece, and projected new visions of themes which had attracted him in childhood. [2] Acme and Septimius was perhaps the most popular picture of the year in England. [3]
Acme and Septimius is a circular picture, with two small full-length figures reclining on a marble bench. [3] This extract from Sir Theodore Martin's translation of Catullus 45 was appended to its title in the Royal Academy catalogue:
Then bending gently back her head,
With that sweet mouth so rosy red,
Upon his eyes she dropped a kiss,
Intoxicating him with bliss. [3]