Arthur Rackham, RWS

(British, 1867-1939)

Andromeda

Footnotes

Provenance
Sale, The George McCulloch collection, Christie's, London, 26 May 1913, lot 216.
Lady Lever Art Gallery, Liverpool (acquired from the above sale); Christie's, London, 6 June 1958, lot 79.
Mr Goldschmidt (acquired from the above sale).
With Paul Longmire Ltd., London.
Mr R. Gilbert (acquired from the above, 30 January 1969).
Private collection, UK.

Exhibited
Birmingham, 1903 (according to a letter from the Walker Art Gallery dated 23 November 1984).
London, Royal Academy, Winter Exhibition, 1909, no. 255.

Arthur Rackham trained part-time at the Lambeth School of Art whilst working as a clerk at the Westminster Fire Office. In 1892, he left his role at the Fire Office to become a reporter and illustrator, and, shortly after, he provided his first book illustrations. Showing such an aptitude for this, he would dedicate the rest of his career to illustrating literature. Rackham's distinctive style would prove hugely influential and established him as one of the greatest book illustrators of the 19th and 20th centuries. Out with his successful career as an illustrator, Rackham also produced watercolours to be exhibited. However, the subjects of his work rarely strayed from the tales of mythology and fantasy in which he seemed so immersed.

In the present lot, Rackham has applied his unique imagery and style to the myth of Andromeda. The princess has been chained to a rock as a sacrifice to sate the sea monster, Cetus, sent by Poseidon as punishment for Andromeda's mother's claim to be of greater beauty than the sea dwelling Nereids. Andromeda has recoiled in fear as she attempts not to look at the beast which makes its way towards her. The viewer can only anticipate the entry of Perseus, who famously comes to the rescue, but, as with so many Old Master paintings of the same subject, tension is created by his absence. Here, we can see the power of Rackham's imagery in propelling the emotional and narrative arc of his subjects.