Apollo and the Nymphs

Apollo and the Nymphs
Apollo and the Nymphs
Apollo and the Nymphs
National Museum Wales, Cardiff
title=Credit line
Artist
Richard Earlom (1743-1822) after Wilson
Title
Apollo and the Nymphs
Date
Published 20 April 1772
Medium
Mezzotint on thick laid paper
Dimensions
Metric: 470 x 618 mm
Imperial: 18 1/2 x 24 5/16 in.
Accession Number
NMW A 11417
Wilson Online Reference
E24A
Description
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.
Provenance
Given by Major F. Treharne James, 1922
Signature/inscription
Lettered below the image:
[1] Lower left: R. Wilson pinxt
[2] Lower centre: R. Sayer Excudit
[3] Lower right: R. Earlom sculp
[4] Lower centre: APOLLO and the NYMPHS | From an ORGINAL PICTURE in the Possession of Mr. Sayer
[5] Lower left: London. Printed for Robt. Sayer Map & Print Seller No. 5 New Fleet Sreet
[6] Lower right: Published as the Act directs April 20th 1772
Inscribed in pencil on original sheet:
[1] Lower left corner: 113 in ellipse
[2] Lower right corner: F/M/-
[3] Upper right corner: b.E. 181/4 x 22
Subject
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.
Related Prints
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
Versions
See 'Links' tab
Related Paintings
P164 Apollo and the Seasons, Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge
P164A Apollo and the Seasons, Indianapolis Museum of Art
Previous Cat/Ref Nos
Old Accession Number: 22.7
1922.1 Gift
Condition/Conservation
Very dirty overall. There is a vertical tear along the platemark lower right, about 3 in. long. Trimmed to the platemark except of the left side.