Father Thames and Henley Naiads (Punch, or the London Charivari, February 26, 1898)
Sambourne here humorously contrasts modernity (the expansion of British railroads) with tradition (the River Thames used as the primary means of travel west of London). A bearded Father Thames stands amongst reeds but wears modern skulling gear and wields an oar. He is surrounded by water nymphs frightened by a steam engine looming over them on an embankment. The latter resembles a monster with rolling eyes and pronged couplers. The image cleverly responds to John William Waterhouse's "Hylas and the Nymphs" (1896), exhibited at the Royal Academy in the summer of 1897 by including lovely nudes whose long hair is entwined with flowers like those in the painting.
Artwork Details
- Title: Father Thames and Henley Naiads (Punch, or the London Charivari, February 26, 1898)
- Artist: After Sir (Edward) Linley Sambourne (British, London 1844–1910 Kensington, London)
- Date: February 26, 1898
- Medium: Reproductive process
- Dimensions: Sheet: 7 1/16 × 9 15/16 in. (18 × 25.2 cm)
- Classification: Prints
- Credit Line: The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1966
- Object Number: 66.555.35
- Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints
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Sir (Edward) Linley Sambourne
late 19th century
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1887
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