Who painted Hylas and the Nymphs?

Hylas and the Nymphs was painted by Salomon Gessner in 1771.

Where can I see Hylas and the Nymphs?

Hylas and the Nymphs is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Hylas and the Nymphs?

Hylas and the Nymphs is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Hylas and the Nymphs

Salomon Gessner , 1771

Hylas and the Nymphs is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Salomon Gessner. It dates from 1771 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Salomon Gessner’s 1771 etching titled Hylas and the Nymphs presents a single figure, the youthful Hylas, extending his hand toward a water lily while surrounded by a group of six translucent nymphs emerging from a pond. The delicate interaction between the mortal and the mythic beings is captured in the soft, wet gestures of the nymphs as they brush against his arm.

Subject & Meaning

The image draws on the classical tale of Hylas, a companion of the Argonauts, who is lured by water nymphs and ultimately disappears, never to rejoin his ship. Gessner’s portrayal emphasizes the moment of enchantment, suggesting both the allure of the natural world and the peril inherent in succumbing to its seductive forces.

Technique & Style

Executed as an etching on laid paper, the work employs fine line work to render the translucency of the nymphs and the reflective surface of the water. Gessner’s handling of tone creates a subtle gradation between the figures and the background, while the composition balances the central figure with the surrounding female forms, achieving a harmonious yet tension‑filled scene.

History & Provenance

Created in 1771, the print is part of Gessner’s broader output of mythological subjects during the late Enlightenment period. Examples of this etching are held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., where it is catalogued among the museum’s holdings of 18th‑century European prints.

Context

Gessner, a Swiss painter and poet, was active in a cultural climate that favored classical revival and the sentimental portrayal of nature. The Hylas narrative, popular among artists of the era, allowed him to explore themes of beauty, danger, and the intersection of human and divine realms, reflecting contemporary tastes for romanticized antiquity.