The death of Epaminondas. Mezzotint by V. Green, 1774, after B. West.

  • West, Benjamin, 1738-1820.
Date:
Feb.y 21. 1774
Reference:
548024i
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The death of Epaminondas. Mezzotint by V. Green, 1774, after B. West. Wellcome Collection. Public Domain Mark. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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Description

Epaminondas, as general of the Thebans, was killed at the battle of Mantinea against the Spartans. "Told that he would die when the point of the spear that had broken off in his chest was removed, he asked if his shield had been saved. ... Epaminondas, assured of the Theban victory and being shown the shield, declares, "it is time to die", and directs that the spearpoint be removed" (von Erffa and Staley loc. cit.)

Publication/Creation

London (Cheapside) : Publish'd by J. Boydell, Feb.y 21. 1774.

Physical description

1 print : mezzotint ; image63.3 x 51.2 cm

Contributors

Lettering

Epaminondas. From the original picture in his Majesty's possession. B West pinxit. V. Green metzotinto engraver to his Majesty fecit The entire lettering is mezzotinted within the image

References note

Alfred Whitman, British mezzotinters: Valentine Green, London 1902, p. 131, no. 178
H von Erffa and Allen Staley, The paintings of Benjamin West, New Haven 1986, pp. 165-166, no. 5

Reference

Wellcome Collection 548024i

Reproduction note

After a painting by West commissioned by King George III for Buckingham Palace and completed in 1773; subsequently in the British Royal Collection

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