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The death of Epaminondas. Mezzotint by V. Green, 1774, after B. West.
- West, Benjamin, 1738-1820.
- Date
- Feb.y 21. 1774
- Reference
- 548024i
- Pictures
- Online
Available online
Licence
Public Domain Mark
You can use this work for any purpose without restriction under copyright law.
Public Domain Mark (PDM) terms and conditions https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0
Credit: The death of Epaminondas. Mezzotint by V. Green, 1774, after B. West. Wellcome Collection. Public Domain Mark
Selected images from this work
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.)
Publication/Creation
London (Cheapside) : Publish'd by J. Boydell, Feb.y 21. 1774.
Physical description
1 print : mezzotint ; image63.3 x 51.2 cm
Lettering
Epaminondas. From the original picture in his Majesty's possession. B West pinxit. V. Green metzotinto engraver to his Majesty fecit
References 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
Lettering note
The entire lettering is mezzotinted within the image
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
Languages
- English
Where to find it
Location Status Access Closed stores