Art Funded by you

Hector's Farewell to Andromache

Gavin Hamilton, 1775

© Hunterian Museum & Art Gallery, University of Glasgow

This is the last of a series of six paintings illustrating Homer's Iliad, often considered Hamilton's greatest achievement, executed in a neo-Poussinesque style. It has been argued that Hamilton's Iliad is based on Alexander Pope's translation of Homer and is influenced by Aristotle's definition of tragedy in his Poetics. Also noteworthy is Hamilton's deliberate choice of the Doric column, a Grecian and not a Roman order, for the temple in the background. A contemporary praised Hamilton's history paintings for preserving a notable 'propriety with regard to costume, and a dignity of manner'.

More information

Title of artwork, date

Hector's Farewell to Andromache, 1775

Date supported

1986

Medium and material

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

315 x 399 cm

Grant

3413

Total cost

30000

Content note: This object record is part of our archive and has not been updated since it was first published. It may contain inaccurate information or outdated language. Please get in touch if you think this record should be amended.

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