Faetonte

Faetonte
Faetonte
Faetonte
Victoria & Albert Museum, London
title=Credit line
Artist
William Woollett (1735-1785) after Wilson
Title
Faetonte
Date
1763
Medium
Etching and engraving
Dimensions
Metric:
Imperial:
Accession Number
DYCE.2862
Wilson Online Reference
E12D
Description
Landscape with Phaeton and Apollo in the centre. Phaeton kneels before his father, asking permission to drive the chariot of the sun across the heavens for one day. There are nymphs to the right and left, a flock of sheep and a shepherd on the next hill. The river Styx can be seen behind and there is a temple and castle, with the rays of the sun over it.
Signature/inscription
Lettered below the image:
[1] Upper left: Riccardo Wilson dipinsi
[2] Lower centre: A Sua Eccelenza il Signor Duca d'Hamilton e Brandon / Marchese di Douglas, etc.
Subject
The narrative comes from the first part of the story as told by Ovid in Metamorphoses, Book 2, ll. 31-102, where Apollo agrees to grant his son, Phaeton, any wish he desires as a proof of paternity. In response Phaeton asks to be allowed to drive his father's chariot across the sky for one day - with disastrous consequences.
Related Paintings
P119A Landscape with Phaeton's Petition to Apollo, Private Collection
Critical commentary
The significance of the inscription remains obscure, though it suggests that the composition was extant during Wilson's years in Italy. However, no version of the painting is known to have belonged to James, 6th Duke of Hamilton (1724-1758), nor is he recorded as having visited Italy. James the 7th duke died in 1769 aged 14 but his brother Douglas the 8th duke was in Italy from October 1775 to June 1776. It seems likely, therefore, that the dedication of this reduced copy of E12 etc. was intended for him.
Bibliography
Edwards 1808, p. 88; DYCE COLLECTION. A Catalogue of the Paintings, Miniatures, Drawings, Engravings, Rings and Miscellaneous Objects Bequeathed by The Reverend Alexander Dyce, London : South Kensington Museum, 1874, p. 271; Fagan 1885, pp. 22-23, cat. LI,
Condition/Conservation
Trimmed to within the platemark
Updated by Compiler
2017-05-19 00:00:00