Artwork
Pan teaching Apollo to play the pipes
Pan teaching Apollo to play the pipes is a watercolor work on paper by the British Romanticist artist Samuel Woodforde. It dates from 1790 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Pan teaching Apollo to play the pipes is a watercolour created by Samuel Woodforde in 1790. It depicts a scene from mythology where the rustic god Pan instructs the youthful Apollo in playing the panpipes.
Subject & Meaning
The work shows an unusual reversal of roles, as Apollo is typically associated with music. Here, Pan, a half-goat figure, guides Apollo, suggesting a moment of informal instruction rather than a formal mythological event.
Technique & Style
The watercolour is executed in a light, spontaneous manner, with softly blended edges reminiscent of sfumato. While the overall effect is sketch-like, the faces of the figures are rendered with greater care and detail.
Artist & collection
