Perseus and Andromeda (after the Titian?); Hercules Wrestling Nemion Lion (from Sketchbook)
1810–20
Medium
Ink, wash, on paper
Dimensions
9 x 11 1/2 in. (22.9 x 29.2 cm)
Classification
Drawing
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1953
Accession Number
53.182.16 recto
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum Art, this intriguing sketchbook page by Thomas Sully (1783–1872) two timeless myths from classical antiquity. Dating to around 1810–20, it features *Perseus and Andromeda—possibly inspired by Titian's Renaissance masterpiece—on one side, depicting the hero rescuing the chained princess from a sea monster, alongside *Hercules Wrestling the Nemean Lion*, showcasing the demigod's legendary first labor. Rendered in ink and wash on paper (9 x 11½ inches), these dynamic compositions reveal Sully's early mastery of dramatic narrative. As a leading Amer...
About the Artist
Thomas Sully · 1783–1872
Thomas Sully, born on June 19, 1783, in Horncastle, Lincolnshire, England, to actor parents Matthew Sully and Sarah Chester, emigrated with his family to Charleston, South Carolina, in 1792. Raised in a theatrical environment, young Thomas debuted as a tumbler at age 11 before discovering his artistic talent. He studied miniature painting with his brother Lawrence Sully, brother-in-law Jean Belzon...