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Apollo and the Nymphs
The Trustees of the British Museum
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Richard Earlom (1743-1822) after Wilson
Apollo and the Nymphs
Published 10 April 1772
Mezzotint with etching
464 x 558 mm
18 1/4 x 22in.
2006,U.402
E24B
Apollo is seen playing his lyre on the banks of a river in a classical landscape with nymphs dancing in a ring and two children blowing bubbles. There is a temple and statue of a river god on the right right with hills in the background to the left and the sky infused with the rays of the rising sun.
Acquired 2006
Scratched below the image with the artists' names and publication line: 'R. Sayer. Excudit publishd, April 10th. 1772'
[1] Inscribed in pencil: '- 7/6 fine proof'
Based loosely on a passage from the Homeric Hymn to Apollo. The subject was popular with classical landscape painters of the 17th and 18th centuries. Apollo, god of the Sun, plays his lyre while the four Seasons (here described as nymphs) dance to the music.
E47 William Woollett and Benjamin Pouncy after Wilson, Apollo and the Seasons, The British Museum
E47A William Woollett and Benjamin Pouncy after Wilson, Apollo and the Seasons, Royal Academy of Arts, London
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P164 Apollo and the Seasons, Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge
P164A Apollo and the Seasons, Indianapolis Museum of Art
Scratched letter proof before title