The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 20, 2024

Glaucus and Nydia

Glaucus and Nydia

1867
(British, 1836–1912)
England, 19th century
oil on wood panel
Framed: 55.5 x 81 x 4.5 cm (21 7/8 x 31 7/8 x 1 3/4 in.); Unframed: 39 x 64.3 cm (15 3/8 x 25 5/16 in.)
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Noah L. Butkin 1977.128
Location: not on view

Did You Know?

Alma-Tadema, one of the most popular Victorian painters, became famous for his depictions of the luxury and decadence of the Roman Empire. His vision of the ancient world was constantly reproduced on film in Hollywood.

Description

"It was one of the few moments in her brief and troubled life that it was sweet to treasure." Weaving a rose garland as a present for her beloved master Glaucus, the blind servant Nydia resists speaking of her love for him. The scene is based on Sir Edward Bulwer-Lytton's enormously popular historical novel The Last Days of Pompeii (published in 1835), a melodramatic epic set in ancient Roman times, which culminates with the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Responding to the 19th-century appetite for things antique, the artist filled his historical scenes with depictions of Roman frescoes and statuary. Dutch by birth, Alma-Tadema made this picture in Brussels for a London art dealer. But the demand for such paintings became so great that he moved to England, where he achieved great financial and social success.
  • 1867
    Ernest Gambart, London, United Kingdom, by commission of the artist
    1867-1870
    Ernest Gambart [1814-1902], London, United Kingdom, after 1870 sold to José de Murrieta, alias Marquis de Santurce.
    1883
    (Christie's, London, United Kingdom, April 7, 1883, lot 164, Marquis de Santurce sale, bought in)
    1895
    (Christie's, London, United Kingdom, March 30, 1895, lot 143, sold to Stephen Gooden & Fox)
    1895
    ( Stephen Gooden & Fox, London. United Kingdom, sold to Thomas Agnew & Sons)
    1917
    (Thomas Agnew & Son, London, United Kingdom, January 15, 1917 sold to A.G. O'Neil)
    1973
    (Sotheby's Belgravia, Funt Collection Sale, November 6, 1973, lot 8, sold to Jules Brassner, New York.
    Jules Brasser [1916-1999], New York, NY, sold to Mr. Noah Butkin
    1977
    Mr. Noah Butkin [1918-1980],Cleveland, given to the Cleveland Museum of Art
    1977-
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • null
    Forbes, Christopher. Victorians in Togas. New York, NY: Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1973. Reproduced: no. 8
    Argencourt, Louise d', and Roger Diederen. Catalogue of Paintings. Pt. 4. European Paintings of the 19th Century. Cleveland: Cleveland Museum of Art, 1974. Mentioned and reproduced: P. 5-7, Vol. I, no. 2
    Gardner Coates, Victoria C., Kenneth D. S. Lapatin, and Jon L. Seydl. The Last Days of Pompeii: Decadence, Apocalypse, Resurrection. Los Angeles, CA: J. Paul Getty Museum, 2012.
    Alma-Tadema, Lawrence, Elizabeth Prettejohn, and Peter Trippi. Lawrence Alma-Tadema: At Home in Antiquity. Munich ; London ; New York : Prestel, 2016. Reproduced and mentioned: p.21, fig. 5.
  • The Last Days of Pompeii: Decadence, Apocalypse, Resurrection. Getty Villa, Pacific Palisades, CA (September 12, 2012-January 7, 2013); The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (February 24-July 7, 2013).
    Year in Review: 1977. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (December 28, 1977-January 22, 1978).
    Victorians in Togas: Paintings by Sir Lawrence Alma Tadema from the Collection of Allen Funt. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY (1973).
    The Works of Lawrence Alma Tadema (1882-83), Grosvenor Gallery, London, United Kingdom, lent by the Marquis de Santurce (1867).
  • {{cite web|title=Glaucus and Nydia|url=false|author=Lawrence Alma-Tadema|year=1867|access-date=20 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1977.128