Hylas and the Nymphs (1896), by J.W. WaterhouseHylas is a character from Greek and Roman mythology a
Hylas and the Nymphs (1896), by J.W. WaterhouseHylas is a character from Greek and Roman mythology as recorded in the Metamorphoses by the poet Ovidius. Whereas in 1893, Waterhouse painted only one nymph approaching the sleeping Hylas, we see here a group of seven water nymphs (naiads) surprising Hylas when he is filling his jar with water from the pond. The nymphs all have very similar faces to stress that they are no ordinary human beings. Their erotic desire makes them lure Hylas into the pond where he will drown. Waterhouse had a fascination for strong, but fatal women associated with water. One can only guess what this is based on.In 2018, this painting attracted a lot of media attention when the Manchester Art Gallery moved it out of public display as a move “against the objectification and exploitation of women”. After a storm of protests against this form of censorship, the Manchester City Council ordered that the painting should be moved back in its original position. -- source link
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