A Sacrifice to Hymen (Three Daughters of Sir William Montgomery)
1776
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
1776
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
A Sacrifice to Hymen (Three Daughters of Sir William Montgomery) is a 1776 ink by Thomas Watson, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This print shows three women in a garden setting. One woman kneels, looking up, while another stands holding a wreath and a pitcher. The third woman sits on a pedestal beside a broken statue, also holding flowers. The background has trees, a distant landscape, and a dark sky. The women’s flowing clothes and dramatic poses suggest a story about love or marriage. The broken statue hints at something lost or forgotten. Check out the technique: chiaroscuro to see how light and shadow create drama.
