Art Collections Online
Apollo and Marsyas
STRUDWICK, John Melhuish (1849 - 1935)
Date: 1879
Media: oil on canvas
Size: 106.5 x 170.0 cm
Acquired: 1916; Gift; Mrs Ivor Griffiths
Accession Number: NMW A 173
A student of Burne-Jones, Strudwick frequently depicted musical themes. According to legend, Marsyas challenged Apollo to a music contest, his flute against the god's lyre. The Muses awarded the victory to Apollo, who tied Marsyas to a tree and flayed him alive. Strudwick has depicted the moment of Judgement. The following verse is written on the back of this painting
Oh ecstasy
Oh happiness of him who once heard
Apollo singing!
As he sang,
I saw the Nine, was lovely pitying eyes,
Sing 'He has conquered'.
Yet I felt no pang
Of fear only deep joy that I have heard such music while I lived,
Even though it brought torture and death.
The Epic of Hades
By a new writer