NESSUS DIVESTING HIMSELF OF HIS SHIRT nd
Acrylic and charcoal on paper. 12¾ x 9in. (32.4 x 22.9cm.)
Inscribed on the reverse with the title, Ithell Colquhoun and (acrylic).
Provenance
WH Lane & Son, Penzance, 28 Feb. 2007, lot 315.
With Red Raven Arts, London.
It is difficult to date this work on stylistic grounds. The first dated use of acrylic paint in Colquhoun's work is 1966, so this might give some indication of when it was painted.
In Greek mythology, after carrying Deianeira, the wife of Heracles, across the river, Nessus, a centaur, attempted to rape her. Heracles saw this and shot a Hydra-poisoned arrow into Nessus's breast. As a final act of malice, Nessus told Deianira, as he lay dying, that his blood mixed with his semen would ensure that Heracles would be true to her forever. Deianira foolishly believed him. Later, when her trust began to wane, she spread the centaur's blood on a shirt and gave it to her husband. Heracles went to a gathering of heroes, where his passion got the better of him. Meanwhile, Deianeira accidentally spilled a portion of the centaur's blood onto the floor. To her horror, it began to fume by the light of the rising sun. She instantly recognized it as poison and sent her messenger to warn Heracles but it was too late. Heracles lay dying slowly and painfully as the shirt burned his skin—either in actual flames or by the heat of poison.