#john roddman spencer stanhope

[preraphaelitepaintings]

The Escape

Artist: John Roddam Spencer Stanhope (English, 1829-1908)

Date: 1900

Medium: Pencil, watercolour and bodycolour

Collection: Private collection

Description

The subject is obscure. The obvious identification when figures, like these, seem to be emerging from Hades, is Orpheus and Euridice, but the male figure here has no lyre, nor would he be carrying Euridice in his arms. Hercules and Alcestis have also been suggested; in Euripides' play, Hercules descends to the underworld to wrestle with Death for Alcestis's body, and then brings her back to her husband, Admetus, on earth. However, the youth in our picture is far from being a muscle-bound superman, and Admetus is conspicuous by his absence.