Ganymede Feeding the Eagle thumbnail 1
On display
Image of Gallery in South Kensington

Ganymede Feeding the Eagle

Oil Painting
ca. 1822 (painted)
Artist/Maker
Evans, Richard (artist)
Place of origin
Italy (painted)

According to Greek mythology, the god Zeus fell in love with the beautiful youth Ganymede. Taking the form of an eagle, Zeus carried him to Mount Olympus, where he became a cup-bearer to the gods. The artist lived for many years in Rome and tried to imitate ancient wall paintings. He made this sketch in preparation for an experimental fresco.

Object details

Categories
Paintings
Gender and Sexuality
Object type
Oil painting
TitleGanymede Feeding the Eagle (popular title)
Materials and techniques
oil on paper laid on canvas
Oil Paint
Paper
Canvas
Oil Painting
Brief description
Oil painting, 'Ganymede Feeding the Eagle' (study for a fresco), Richard Evans, ca. 1822
Physical description
Oil painting
Dimensions
  • Estimate height: 58.4cm
  • Estimate width: 42.1cm
Dimensions taken from Catalogue of British Oil Paintings 1820-1860, Ronald Parkinson, Victoria and Albert Museum, London: HMSO, 1990
Styles
British School
Roman Style
Credit line
Given by the artist
Object history
Given by the artist, 1870
Subjects depicted
Boy
Eagle
Cup
Ganymede
Literary referenceGreek and Roman mythology
Summary
According to Greek mythology, the god Zeus fell in love with the beautiful youth Ganymede. Taking the form of an eagle, Zeus carried him to Mount Olympus, where he became a cup-bearer to the gods. The artist lived for many years in Rome and tried to imitate ancient wall paintings. He made this sketch in preparation for an experimental fresco.
Bibliographic references
  • Parkinson, R., Victoria and Albert Museum, Catalogue of British Oil Paintings 1820-1860, London: HMSO, 1990, p. 89
  • This object features in 'Out on Display: A selection of LGBTQ-related objects on display in the V&A', a booklet created by the V&A's LGBTQ Working Group. First developed and distributed to coincide with the 2014 Pride in London Parade, the guide was then expanded for the Queer and Now Friday Late that took place in February 2015.
Collection
Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number
36-1870

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Record createdMay 13, 2003
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O80681/ganymede-feeding-the-eagle-oil-painting-evans-richard/
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