Philomela

John Gregory, Philomela, 1922, bronze on a marble base, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase, 1984.4
John Gregory, Philomela, 1922, bronze on a marble base, figure: 12 x 9 1⁄4 x 3 1⁄2 in. (30.5 x 23.2 x 8.9 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase, 1984.4

Artwork Details

Title
Philomela
Artist
Founder
Roman Bronze Works
Date
1922
Location
Dimensions
figure: 12 x 9 1⁄4 x 3 1⁄2 in. (30.5 x 23.2 x 8.9 cm.)
Credit Line
Museum purchase
Mediums
Mediums Description
bronze on a marble base
Classifications
Subjects
  • Figure female
  • Fantasy — winged being
  • Mythology — classical — Philomela
Object Number
1984.4
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1984.4

Artwork Description

The large version of Philomela was commissioned by Payne Whitney, an avid sportsman and philanthropist, for a bird garden on his country estate in Long Island. It shows the mythological character Philomela crouching down while looking back over one shoulder. The serene pose and rich patina of the figure was meant to complement its setting, among the ten thousand rose bushes and countless other flowers of the Whitney garden.

Works by this artist (7 items)

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Image Not Available
In the Moonlight
Artist
opaque watercolor
Not on view
Morris Graves, Logged Mountains, ca. 1935-1943, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from General Services Administration, 1971.447.33
Logged Mountains
Artist
Dateca. 1935-1943
oil on canvas
Not on view
Morris Graves, Spring with Machine Age Noise V, 1957, ink and tempera on paper mounted on paperboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc., 1969.47.58
Spring with Machine Age Noise V
Artist
Date1957
ink and tempera on paper mounted on paperboard
Not on view
Morris Graves, Hibernation, 1954, watercolor on paper mounted on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Sara Roby Foundation, 1986.6.37
Hibernation
Artist
Date1954
watercolor on paper mounted on paper
Not on view

More Artworks from the Collection

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Image Not Available
Untitled from the series Vintage Kodalith prints
Artist
Date1970
Kodalith print
Not on view
Image Not Available
Bently
Artist
Dateca. 1975
gelatin silver print
Not on view
Eugene Von Bruenchenhein, Untitled, ca. 1945-1950, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Lewis and Jean Greenblatt, 2002.86.9
Untitled
Artist
Dateca. 1945-1950
gelatin silver print
Not on view
Eugene Von Bruenchenhein, Untitled, ca. 1945-1950, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Lewis and Jean Greenblatt, 2002.86.7
Untitled
Artist
Dateca. 1945-1950
gelatin silver print
Not on view