Epictetus

Original Drawing

Epictetus, Charcoal on Paper (2024). 18" x 24" / 45.7 x 61cm. Acid-free heavy weight paper.

Prints

All prints are Giclee Art Prints on archival paper, printed in small batches in Dublin, Ireland. Signed and numbered by hand, each edition is limited to 125. 

If you are interested in a size that is not listed, please email peter@aoifecrowley.com. 

Please note

You are purchasing original artwork. In person, the colours may vary slightly from how they display on your device.

Original paintings will ship 1-2 weeks following your order. Prints are shipped during the first week of each month. If you need expedited shipping, drop us a line at peter@aoifecrowley.com, and we'll see what we can do. 

Release Notes

Meet Epictetus, my favourite Stoic philosopher and the subject of this artwork. 

Unlike many of the more famous high-class Stoics who came later and he inspired, he started life as a slave to Nero's secretary. This mix of vantage points - low class but close proximity to power - gave him a unique perspective. He began to study philosophy as a slave, and sometime after Nero's death he managed to gain freedom and began teaching philosophy.

He was booted out of Rome with all the other philosophers by a later Roman Emperor. In exile he taught that that our response to life’s challenges is within our control, even if the circumstances aren’t. 

I chose to depict Epictetus using a real model, a common approach for historical figures predating photography. This method lets me blend historical insight with my own interpretation, focusing on capturing his essence and the stoic resolve he's renowned for, rather than an exact physical likeness.

His teachings have been a personal comfort, providing a practical framework for handling adversity. 

Hope you find both beauty and inspiration in this portrayal.