đź“ťHeracles
Heracles was the greatest of the Greek heroes, famous for his unmatched strength and his battles against monsters on behalf of the Olympian gods.
đź“ťHeracles and Hylas relationship
One day, He was traveling through Dryope territory and became extremely hungry, so he seized one of King Theiodamas' prized bulls, slaughtered it, and ate it to survive. King Theiodamas confronted Heracles in fury. They got into a fight, and Heracles struck him down, which later led to Heracles' conquest of the Dryopes. Heracles then took King’s son, Hylas, as his companion and beloved, training him in heroic skills like wrestling, which defined Greek warriors and athletes of the time. They formed a profound bond with each other.
đź“ťJoining the Argo
Soon after, fifty Greek heroes sailed on the ship Argo to retrieve the Golden Fleece from the distant land of Colchis. Heracles signed up for this adventure and brought Hylas along as his loyal squire.
đź“ťStop in Mysia
Early in the journey, the crew anchored off Mysia to restock water and supplies. Heracles headed into the woods to hunt, while Hylas went to the spring of Pegae with pitchers in hand.
đź“ťAt the Spring
There, at Pegae's clear waters, home to alluring water nymphs, Hylas leaned in to fill his pitcher. Nymphs pulled Hylas into the water because they were captivated by his stunning beauty, desiring him for themselves; he vanished and became a local legend, lost forever. He wasn't necessarily drowned to die, but taken to live with the nymphs, becoming a beautiful, immortal youth in their watery realm.
đź“ť Heracles after Hylas' Abduction
Heracles was crushed when Hylas disappeared and wandered around Mysia, calling his name in the hope of finding him. The Argo ship and the other heroes eventually had to leave without him and continue their voyage for the Golden Fleece. Heracles went on with his other famous adventures, but the story keeps the sense that he never stopped grieving for Hylas.
The Pre-Raphaelites give so much beauty and storytelling. There was a time my bedroom was wall to wall posters of their works.
I've always admired the composition in this work and the glowing alabaster skin effects and the contrasts between the red hair and the greens in the foliage. I used to melt when I saw Waterhouse, and I still appreciate his work, although some of it I now consider to be sort of a guilty pleasure as my tastes as both a painter and art appreciator have changed over time.
The painting Hylas and the Nymphs was acquired from the artist by the Manchester Art Gallery in 1896, where it is still being displayed.
The painting measures 98.2 by 163.3 centimetres (38.7 in Ă— 64.3 in). It depicts Hylas, a male youth in classical garb, wearing a blue tunic with a red sash, and bearing a wide-necked water jar. He is bending down beside a pond in a glade of lush green foliage, reaching out towards seven young women, the water nymphs, who are emerging from the pond among the leaves and flowers of Nymphaeaceae (water lilies), including an early depiction of the yellow waterlily, Nuphar lutea. The nymphs are naked, their alabaster skin luminous in the dark but clear water, with yellow and white flowers in their auburn hair. They have very similar physical features, perhaps based on just two models.
Hylas is being enticed to enter the water, from which he will not return. One of the nymphs holds his wrist and elbow, a second plucks at his tunic, and a third holds out some pearls in the palm of her hand. The face of Hylas in profile is shadowed and barely visible, but the faces of the nymphs are clearly visible as they gaze upon him. The scene is depicted from a slightly elevated position, looking down at the water like Hylas, so no sky is visible. Hylas's position forces the viewer's focus onto the nymphs in the water and the lack of reference to his relationship with Hercules emphasizes that the narrative of the painting is not about Hylas's experiences, but about the sinister nature of the nymphs.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hylas_and_the_Nymphs_(painting)?wprov=sfti1#
One of my favorite paintings from one of my favorite old white dudes
I concur. I’ll always stop and admire a Waterhouse painting, whenever I see one.
It felt a little too on-the-nose to hang a print of in my bathroom, though. Instead I’ve got a canvas print of Waterhouse’s Mermaid in there—I get to admire it every day.
Oh, to be Hylas...
Such a superb painting! I didn't know the story of Hylas and never thought to find out more about the picture - I always assumed once they lured the lad in they'd turn into hideous demons and eat him or something. Thanks OP.
Manchester Art Gallery also has Alexander von Wagner's The Chariot Race, and Sappho by Auguste Charles Mengin - these and the one above are worth a trip to Manchester to see.
I love that they are all so similar, makes it even more eerie and magical. It’s a Greek myth but the scene couldn’t be more English looking. I used to love to go visit them all when I studied in Manchester
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Furiosa
https://preview.redd.it/q3dlnlsk789g1.png?width=1080&format=png&auto=webp&s=147b977f709a54f333c520040704b3ba67f1bbd5
These nymphs are clearly maniacs! Hmmm, someone should come up with a word for this character trait.