John Gibson RA, Achilles and Lycaon

Achilles and Lycaon

John Gibson RA (1790 - 1866)

RA Collection: Art

A pen and ink sketch of two fighting male figures. One stands with his sword raised in his right hand while the other kneels at his feet with his shield and helmet on the ground. This is probably the scene where Achilles finds Lycaon, a Trojan whom he had already sold into slavery, 'totally unarmed, without his helmet, shield, or spear, for he'd thrown these on the ground, exhausted'. Homer describes how,

'With one hand, Lycaon grabbed Achilles' knee.

His other clutched the spear, refusing to let go.

He begged for mercy, addressing Achilles'.

However, Achilles took no notice and instead raised his sword and struck Lycaon on the neck before flinging his body into the river.

The drawing is in sketchy pen and ink outline within a rectangular pen and ink border. It was engraved and published in Imitations of Drawings by John Gibson , R.A. Sculptor, Engraved by G. Wenzel and L. Prosseda, Plate 16.

Object details

Title
Achilles and Lycaon
Artist/designer
John Gibson RA (1790 - 1866)
Object type
Drawing
Medium
Pen and brown ink on cream wove paper
Dimensions

263 mm x 184 mm

Collection
Royal Academy of Arts
Object number
05/635
Acquisition
Bequeathed by John Gibson RA 1866
return to start
back

Start exploring the RA Collection

read more
  • Explore art works, paint-smeared palettes, scribbled letters and more...
  • Artists and architects have run the RA for 250 years.
    Our Collection is a record of them.
Start exploring