"Saevis compescuit ignibus ignes" Ov. met L2. V313.
Hayter Invt. et aqua forte fecit 1841 Lonfinii.
Etching with an aquatint over printed tone. In pencil on bottom left "Presented to his friend J. Bonomi signed with Hayter's initials, Sept 1847", Sheet 545 x 381mm. 21½ x 15". Foxing, minor nicks and tears around margin edges.
A mythological scene with Zeus accompanied by an eagle on a cloud in top centre, striking a thunderbolt towards Phaeton who tumbles from his chariot. This is the part in Ovid's Metamorphoses when Phaeton, seeking assurance that his father is truly the sun God Helios, obtains the promise to drive the sun chariot as proof. Failing to control it, the Earth is in danger of burning up, so Zeus kills him with a thunderbolt to prevent further disaster. Sir George Hayter (1792 – 1871) was a notable English painter and printmaker, very well known for his portraits and large works involving in some cases several hundred individual portraits. Queen Victoria appreciated his merits and appointed Hayter her Principal Painter in Ordinary and also awarded him a Knighthood 1841. This original etching by Hayter is most uncommon. Joseph Bonomi (1796-1878) was born in London into a family of architects. His father, Joseph Bonomi the Elder, had worked with Robert and James Adam, while his older brother, Ignatius Bonomi, was a notable architect of the early and mid-19th century. He was an acclaimed sculptor, draughtsman, lithographer and Egyptologist, marrying John Martin's daughter in 1845.
[Ref: 20138] £160.00
Etching with an aquatint over printed tone. In pencil on bottom left "Presented to his friend J. Bonomi signed with Hayter's initials, Sept 1847", Sheet 545 x 381mm. 21½ x 15". Foxing, minor nicks and tears around margin edges.
A mythological scene with Zeus accompanied by an eagle on a cloud in top centre, striking a thunderbolt towards Phaeton who tumbles from his chariot. This is the part in Ovid's Metamorphoses when Phaeton, seeking assurance that his father is truly the sun God Helios, obtains the promise to drive the sun chariot as proof. Failing to control it, the Earth is in danger of burning up, so Zeus kills him with a thunderbolt to prevent further disaster. Sir George Hayter (1792 – 1871) was a notable English painter and printmaker, very well known for his portraits and large works involving in some cases several hundred individual portraits. Queen Victoria appreciated his merits and appointed Hayter her Principal Painter in Ordinary and also awarded him a Knighthood 1841. This original etching by Hayter is most uncommon. Joseph Bonomi (1796-1878) was born in London into a family of architects. His father, Joseph Bonomi the Elder, had worked with Robert and James Adam, while his older brother, Ignatius Bonomi, was a notable architect of the early and mid-19th century. He was an acclaimed sculptor, draughtsman, lithographer and Egyptologist, marrying John Martin's daughter in 1845.
[Ref: 20138] £160.00