Alcyone discovers the dead body of her husband Ceyx and attempts to throw herself off a cliff into the sea. Line engraving with etching by William Woollett after Richard Wilson, 1769.

  • Wilson, Richard, 1713-1782.
Date:
31 July 1769
Reference:
46779i
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view Alcyone discovers the dead body of her husband Ceyx and attempts to throw herself off a cliff into the sea. Line engraving with etching by William Woollett after Richard Wilson, 1769.

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Credit

Alcyone discovers the dead body of her husband Ceyx and attempts to throw herself off a cliff into the sea. Line engraving with etching by William Woollett after Richard Wilson, 1769. Wellcome Collection. Public Domain Mark. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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About this work

Description

In Greek mythology, Ceyx was the son of Eosphorus and the king of Thessaly. He was married to the demi-goddess Alcyone (Halycone). When he perished at sea, his wife threw herself from the rocks. Out of compassion, the gods changed them into the halcyon birds

Publication/Creation

London (Green Street, Leicester Fields) : William Woollett, 31 July 1769.

Physical description

1 print : line engraving, with etching ; image 39.6 x 53.4 cm

Lettering

Ceyx and Alcyone from an original picture in the possession of Ryland & Bryer. R. Wilson pixt. Londini. Wm Woollett sculpt. The lettering continues with a Latin poem by Ovid (Metamorphoses XI 725) and an English poem by Dryden

Reference

Wellcome Collection 46779i

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