The death of Epaminondas. Mezzotint by V. Green, 1774, after B. West.
- West, Benjamin, 1738-1820.
- Date
- Feb.y 21. 1774
Available online
License
Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
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Credit: The death of Epaminondas. Mezzotint by V. Green, 1774, after B. West. Credit: Wellcome Collection. Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
About this work
Description
Epaminondas, as general of the Thebans, was killed at the battle of Mantinea against the Spartans. "Told that he would die when the point of the spear that had broken off in his chest was removed, he asked if his shield had been saved. ... Epaminondas, assured of the Theban victory and being shown the shield, declares, "it is time to die", and directs that the spearpoint be removed" (von Erffa and Staley loc. cit.)
Lettering
Epaminondas. From the original picture in his Majesty's possession. B West pinxit. V. Green metzotinto engraver to his Majesty fecit
Publication/Creation
London (Cheapside) : Publish'd by J. Boydell, Feb.y 21. 1774.
Physical description
1 print : mezzotint ; image63.3 x 51.2 cm
Publications note
Alfred Whitman, British mezzotinters: Valentine Green, London 1902, p. 131, no. 178
H von Erffa and Allen Staley, The paintings of Benjamin West, New Haven 1986, pp. 165-166, no. 5
Reference
Wellcome Library no. 548024i
Reproduction note
After a painting by West commissioned by King George III for Buckingham Palace and completed in 1773; subsequently in the British Royal Collection
Type/Technique
Language
- English
Where to find it
Identifiers
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