The Rape of Proserpine

Location

Country: UK
City: London
Place: Government Hospitality, Lancaster House

James Thornhill, born in Dorset, was apprenticed to Thomas Highmore (1689-97) but also studied and probably assisted Antonio Verrio and Louis Laguerre. He became a Freeman of the Painter-Stainers’ Company in 1704 and began painting scenery in 1705. His surviving decorative schemes include those at Greenwich Hospital (1708-27), Blenheim Palace (1716), Charborough Park (1718) and St. Paul’s Cathedral (1716-19). Queen Anne also employed him to paint an apartment at Hampton Court. He visited the Netherlands and Paris in 1711 and in the same year became a director of Sir Godfrey Kneller’s Academy, taking it over in 1716. In 1720, he became Serjeant Painter and was knighted. He became MP for Weymouth in 1722 and ran an Academy from his home.

Places

Subjects

pitchfork, chariot, tree, wing, man, woman, nude, torch, child, Roman mythology, god, putto

Materials & Techniques

canvas, oil, oil painting

Artist

Sir James Thornhill (1675 - 1734)

Title

The Rape of Proserpine

Date

c.1704-1705

Medium

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

height: 168.50 cm, width: 146.00 cm

Acquisition

Purchased from Agnew's, November 1964

Provenance

Commissioned by Thomas Foley MP of Stoke Edith, Herefordshire; with Agnew’s Gallery, London; from whom purchased in November 1964

GAC number

6755