Design for an overdoor painting depicting Apollo, Pan and Midas
1750
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
About the artist
Artist
James, Sir Thornhill
Thornhill, James, Sir (1710–1710) was an artist.
See the richer artist page1750
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Design for an overdoor painting depicting Apollo, Pan and Midas is a 1750 by James, Sir Thornhill, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This drawing shows Apollo and Pan in a musical contest, with Midas sitting behind them. Apollo holds a lyre and Pan holds panpipes. The scene is from a story by Ovid's Metamorphoses. The artist has added notes on the sides of the drawing. This drawing is interesting because it's a design for a painting that would go above a door. The details in the drawing are precise, with the artist noting the location and figures. To learn more about the artist's style, look up the technique: cross-hatching.
A design drawing in pencil and wash for an overdoor painting, this work by James Thornhill depicts the musical contest between Apollo and Pan from Ovid’s *Metamorphoses*. Apollo is shown seated on the left playing a lyre, while Pan stands to the right with panpipes, and Midas is positioned centrally behind them. Thornhill’s annotations at the top identify the subject and intended placement, with dimensions marked along the left and bottom edges. Executed in black chalk with subtle wash shading, the drawing was later purchased in 1891 from W.J. Smith and was part of an album of Thornhill’s…
Read the full account in the museum source.
Thornhill, James, Sir (1710–1710) was an artist.
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