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<a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/benjamin-west-594" aria-label="More by Benjamin West" data-gtm-name="header_link_artist" data-gtm-destination="page--artist">Benjamin West</a>
Pylades and Orestes Brought as Victims before Iphigenia
Presented by Sir George Beaumont Bt 1826
actions: postures and motions
adults
altar
architecture
brother
classical
classical
classical myths: events, themes
classical myths: gods and heroes
clothing and personal items
column
emotions and human qualities
emotions, concepts and ideas
Euripides, ‘Iphigenia in Tauris’
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Iphigenia
literature and fiction
man
military
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Orestes
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priestess
Pylades
religion and belief
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sacrifice
sister
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soldier
standing
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toga
Trojan War
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<p>This painting’s story is based on a play by the classical author Euripides. The two semi-naked men have been arrested for trying to steal a gold statue of the goddess Diana from the temple. They have been brought before Iphigenia, a priestess of Diana, to be sacrificed on the altar. But here Iphigenia recognises the man in the red drapery as her long-lost brother, Orestes. The composition of this picture was heavily influenced by the artist’s studies in Italy. He particularly admired the sculptural friezes on classical tombs and the Renaissance frescoes of Raphael.</p><p><em>Gallery label, February 2016</em></p>
painting oil paint canvas
8 October 2001 – 9 March 2003
2003-03-09
8 October 2001 – 9 March 2003
2003-03-09
2001-10-08
Tate Britain (London, UK)
http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/
2001-10-08
Britain and Italy in the Eighteenth Century
Collection based display
12 November 2007 – 17 October 2010
2010-10-17
12 November 2007 – 17 October 2010
2010-10-17
2007-11-12
Tate Britain (London, UK)
http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/
2007-11-12
Grand Manner
Collection based display
31 January 2012 – 12 August 2012
2012-08-12
31 January 2012 – 12 August 2012
2012-08-12
2012-01-31
Tate Britain (London, UK)
http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/
2012-01-31
Migrations
Exhibition
26 September 2022
26 September 2022
2022-09-26
Tate Britain (London, UK)
http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/
2022-09-26
Gallery 15
Collection based display
Pylades and Orestes Brought as Victims before Iphigenia
support: 1003 × 1264 mm
Presented by Sir George Beaumont Bt 1826
<div class="text">
<p>According to Sir George Beaumont (1753–1827), who presented the present picture to the National Gallery in 1826, the young American artist, Benjamin West, painted <i>Pylades and Orestes</i> ‘immediately on his arrival in England’, presumably in 1763, when he arrived from Italy (National Gallery, p.56). It was first shown at the annual exhibition of the Society of Artists, London, in 1766, with its companion the <i>Continence of Scipio</i> (Cambridge, Fitzwilliam Museum). West’s narrative is taken from the third act of a play by the classical author Euripides (480–406 BC) entitled <i>Iphigenia in Tauris</i>. In the passage depicted by West, Iphigenia, a priestess of Diana, stands in judgement before the semi-naked figures of her brother Orestes (in the red drapery) and his cousin and companion, Pylades, who are brought before her, bound, by the shepherd (centre) who had previously reported their capture. Before Iphigenia, and separating her from the two men, is a low altar upon which the two men are to be sacrificed for their act of sacrilege. Beyond, at the entrance of the temple, is the gold statue of Diana that Orestes had been commanded by the oracle at Delphi to take back to Athens in reparation for the murder of his mother Clytemnestra, and which he had been attempting to seize when arrested.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In composing <i>Pylades and Orestes </i>West was heavily influenced by the neo-classical history paintings of Gavin Hamilton (1723–98) and Anton Raphael Mengs (1728–79), whom he had known during his studies in Italy between 1760 and 1763. He also looked for inspiration to the frescoes of Raphael (1483–1520) and classical relief sculpture, notably the Orestes Sarcophagus in the Villa Ridolfi, Rome, drawings from which he used to form the pose of his own figure of Orestes. West also revealed later that ‘his mind was full of Correggio’ when painting the present work, at least with respect to the colour of the figures’ flesh (quoted in von Erffa and Staley, p.261).</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The early history of the picture is interesting. Apparently it was greatly admired in West’s studio, even before it was exhibited, although of the many wealthy collectors who came to inspect it, none offered to buy it. However, in 1766, the year of its exhibition, Alexander Geddes (1737–1802) purchased the picture from West for one hundred guineas, although by 1776 it belonged to the engraver and dealer Gerard Vandergucht (1696–1776), in whose posthumous sale it appeared the following year. By 1802 West had reacquired the picture, selling it once more, this time to the influential collector Sir George Beaumont. In 1826 Beaumont presented it to the National Gallery, making it the first picture by West to enter a public art gallery. It remained in the National Gallery until 1929, when it was transferred to the Tate Gallery.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>
<b>Further reading</b>
<br/>Helmut von Erffa and Allen Staley, <i>The Paintings of Benjamin West</i>, New Haven and London 1986, pp.260–1, no.186<br/>
<i>‘Noble and Patriotic’. The Beaumont Gift 1828</i>, exhibition catalogue, National Gallery, London 1988, p.56, no.13, reproduced in colour</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Martin Postle<br/>September 2000</p>
<p> </p>
</div>

Summary
2012-05-03T00:00:00
summary
SHORT_TEXT
<div class="text">
<p>This painting’s story is based on a play by the classical author Euripides. The two semi-naked men have been arrested for trying to steal a gold statue of the goddess Diana from the temple. They have been brought before Iphigenia, a priestess of Diana, to be sacrificed on the altar. But here Iphigenia recognises the man in the red drapery as her long-lost brother, Orestes. The composition of this picture was heavily influenced by the artist’s studies in Italy. He particularly admired the sculptural friezes on classical tombs and the Renaissance frescoes of Raphael.</p>
</div>

Display caption
2016-02-23T00:00:00
display-caption
DISPLAY_CAPTION
actions: postures and motions adults altar architecture brother classical classical classical myths: events, themes classical myths: gods and heroes clothing and personal items column emotions and human qualities emotions, concepts and ideas Euripides, ‘Iphigenia in Tauris’ family features group groups Iphigenia literature and fiction man military objects Orestes people periods and styles priestess Pylades religion and belief religious religious religious and ceremonial sacrifice sister society soldier standing temple toga Trojan War universal religious imagery victim woman work and occupations