Study for the Head of Perseus; for the painting 'Perseus and Andromeda'

Sir Edward John Poynter Bt PRA RWS (1839-1919)

Inscribed 'Study for the head of Perseus', signed 'Edward Poynter' and dated 1872

Charcoal on white paper

10 1/2 x 9 inches, 27 x 22.5 cm.

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Commentary by Hilary Morgan

The present drawing is a preliminary study for Poynter's paintin 'Perseus and Andromeda', commissioned for The Earl of Wharncliffe's billiard room at Wortley Hall (Inglis, 1987).

Poynter painted four large pictures as part of the decorative scheme, of which 'Perseus and Andromeda' was the first. It was followed by 'Fight between More of More Hall and the Dragon of Wantley' in 1873, 'Atalanta's Race' in 1876 and 'Nausicaa and her Maidens playing at ball' in 1879. In 1881 Poynter painted a large full-length portrait of the Earl of Wharricliffe which also hung there.

Perseus and Andromeda'. showing Perseus fighting the sea monster, was shown at the Royal Academy in 1872 (number 505). It was probably chosen as the first painting for the schemebecduse Lord Wharncliffe admired his small 'Andromeda' shown at the Royal Academy in 1870, indeed 'Andromeda' probably gained Poynter the commission.

The present drawing, a study of expression and the head of an heroic male figure, is a clear indication of the new and powerful academicism which entered Poynter's art after he became a Royal Academician. It is significant that Poynter lectured in defence of Michelangelo, after Ruskin's attacks on the artist (Poynter, 1879).

References

Inglis, A. Poynter's Decoration of the Billiard Room as Wortley Hall, Apollo. Vol CXXVI, October 1987. Number 308 new series, pages 249-255.

Morgan, Hilary and Nahum, Peter. Burne-Jones, The Pre-Raphaelites and Their Century. London: Peter Nahum, 1989. Catalogue number 110.

Poynter, E. J. Lecture IX. Professor Ruskin on Michelangelo, Ten Lectures on Art (Lecture given at the Slade School, October 1875). London: Chapman and Hall, 1879.

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Last modified 7 January 2002