Idylls by Theocritus

A collaboration from 2011 - 2015 with poet and classicist, Dr Ben Jasnow, to translate and illustrate the Idylls by Theocritus. They are presented here with the translations which inspired them.


Idyll 1 - The song of Thyrsis

Idyll 1

Digital prints, 2011 - 12

Images 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11 all 29 x 21 cm

Images 1, 2, 5, 8, 9 all 29 x 42 cm


Idyll 2 - The spell of Simaetha

Idyll 2

Digital prints, 2011 - 12

Images 1 - 7 all 29 x 21 cm

Images 8 - 12 all 42 x 29 cm


Idyll 3 - The goatherd’s serenade

Idyll 3

Digital prints, 2013 - 14

42 x 29 cm


Idyll 4 - The Two Herdsmen

Idyll 4

Digital prints, 2015

Images 1, 3, 4, 5 all 29 x 21 cm

Image 2 - 42 x 29 cm

Image 6 - vertical diptych, each sheet 29 x 21 cm


Idyll 6 - Damoetas and Daphnis sing the cyclops

Idyll 6

Digital prints, 2012 - 13

Images 1 and 7 all 29 x 21 cm

Images 2 - 6 all 42 x 29 cm


Idyll 7 - The harvest-home

Idyll 7

Digital prints, 2011 - 12

Images all 42 x 29 cm


Idyll 10 - The reapers

Idyll 10

Digital prints, 2014 - 15

Images 1 triptych, each sheet 29 x 21 cm

Images 2 - 5 all 29 x 21 cm


Idyll 12 - The hearkener

Idyll 12

Digital prints, 2013-14

Images all 42 x 29 cm


Idyll 13 - Hylas

Idyll 13

Digital prints, 2013-14

Images 1 and 3 - 42 x 29 cm

Images 2, and 4-12 - 29 x 21 cm


Idyll 18 - The epithalamium of Helen

Idyll 18

Digital prints, 2013-14

Images - 42 x 29 cm


Ancient Songs, Modern Muses

Exhibition by John Woodman and Ben Jasnow at The Bridge PAI, Charlottesville, Virginia, 2013

Private view talk by Dr Ben Jasnow, concerning the joint exhibition of poetry and painting translations of the Idylls by Theocritus.


Open University Interview

An interview between poet and classicist, Dr Ben Jasnow, and painter, John Woodman, about their collaboration to illustrate and translate the Idylls by Theocritus.

Interview