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A Sacrifice to Hymen (Three Daughters of Sir William Montgomery)

Thomas Watson after Sir Joshua Reynolds

1776

A Sacrifice to Hymen (Three Daughters of Sir William Montgomery) by Thomas Watson after Sir Joshua Reynolds

Medium

mezzotint on laid paper

Dimensions

plate: 56.3 x 69.2 cm (22 3/16 x 27 1/4 in.) sheet: 57.1 x 70.6 cm (22 1/2 x 27 13/16 in.)

Classification

Print

Department

CG-E

Museum

National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

Credit

Gift of C.G. Boerner

Accession Number

2002.107.1

Art Historical Context

In the elegant tradition of 18th-century portraiture, *A Sacrifice to HymenThree Daughters of Sir William)* is a captivating mezzotint print created Thomas Watson in 1776, after an original painting by the renowned Sir Joshua Reynolds. Reynolds a leading figure in the Grand Manner style and first president of the Royal Academy Arts, masterfully depicted the three young sisters—likely symbolizing their readiness for matrimony, as evoked by Hymen, the classical god of marriage. This print preserves the painter's luminous compositions and graceful poses, bringing aristocratic refinement to a broa...

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