The Abduction of Deianira

1770–80

Not on view

Hamilton belonged to a generation determined to expand the scope of the arts in Britain. He traveled to Rome as a teenager to study with Antonio Zucchi, returned to England to make decorative paintings for Robert Adam, then entered the Royal Academy Schools in 1769. From that point forward he focused on historical and literary subjects, together with portaits. This early drawing represents a naked woman carried off by a centaur. It may illustrate the Greek myth which tells of Deianira, the wife of Heracles, abducted by Nessus, a centaur-ferryman.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

References

Title: The Abduction of Deianira
Artist: William Hamilton (British, London 1751–1801 London)
Date: 1770–80
Medium: Pen and black ink over graphite, with watercolor
Dimensions: Sheet: 10 9/16 × 12 15/16 in. (26.8 × 32.8 cm)
Classification: Drawings
Credit Line: The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 2015
Object Number: 2015.84
Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

More Artwork

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Mary, Queen of Scots signs the paper by which she resigns her crown to her infant son (from "History of England"), William Hamilton British, Etching and stipple engraving — Mary, Queen of Scots signs the paper by which she resigns her crown to her infant son (from "History of England")
Multiple artists/makers
May 1, 1787

Amymone (?) with a lecherous satyr, William Hamilton British, Pen and black ink over graphite, with watercolor — Amymone (?) with a lecherous satyr
William Hamilton
1770–80

John the Baptist and two men, with Christ, William Hamilton British, Pen and black ink, brush and brown wash over graphite — John the Baptist and two men, with Christ
William Hamilton
1770–80

A king with his horse, alarmed by ghostly women, William Hamilton British, Pen and brown ink, brush and brown and gray wash and watercolor, over graphite — A king with his horse, alarmed by ghostly women
William Hamilton
1770–80

A man in chains converses with a woman, William Hamilton British, Pen and brown and gray ink, brush and gray and brown wash, over graphite — A man in chains converses with a woman
William Hamilton
1770–80

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