Calypso entices Telemachus into her grotto, watched by Athena in the guise of Mentor. Stipple engraving by J. Eginton, 1796, after W. Hamilton, 1791.

An episode in François de Salignac de La Mothe Fénelon, Les aventures de Télémaque, fils d'Ulysse (1699). Calypso takes Telemachus by the hand and points towards the interior of the grotto, where a couch is visible, lit by light from above. Mentor looks at her with suspicion

The cave is on an island named as Ogygia, traditionally identified with Gozo. Suspended from the top of the cave are stone formations resembling the pendants of a hammerbeam roof

[Birmingham] : Publish'd ... by Jee & Eginton ; London (New Bond S.t) : Sold by Tomkins, Sep.r 1st 1796.

1 print : stipple engraving ; image 57 x 39.1 cm

Forms a pair to: Aeneas taking leave of Dido. Stipple engraving by J. Eginton, 1796, after W. Hamilton, 1791. (Wcat)3063627i

Calypso conducting Telemachus and Mentor to the grotto. Calypso conduisant Telemaque & Mentor à la grotte. Painted by W. Hamilton R.A. Engraved by I. Eginton

One of a pair of stipple engravings made after a pair of paintings that Hamilton exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1791, described as "Calypso receiving Telemachus and Mentor in the grotto" (Royal Academy catalogue no. 133) and "Aeneas communicating to Dido the necessity of his departure from Carthage" (ibid. no. 176). The painting of Calypso receiving Telemachus was the property of Frederick William Hotham, 6th Baron Hotham (1863-1923), was offered for sale at Sotheby's, London, 16 November 1983, lot 85, and was subsequently with Sphinx Fine Art, Kensington Church Street, London. The whereabouts of the painting of Aeneas and Dido appears to be unknown. Two smaller paintings of the same subjects, each 61 x 40 cm (i.e. about the same size as the stipple engravings), were sold at Christie's, London, 'British & Maritime pictures', 17 July 1992, lot 75

Wellcome Collection 3063628i