NIKOLAUS GYSIS | ARACHNE

NIKOLAUS GYSIS
Greek
1842 - 1901
ARACHNE

charcoal and pencil on paper; signed N. Gysis lower right
sheet: 67 by 52 cm., 26¼ by 20½ in.
framed: 87.5 by 77 cm., 34½ by 30¼ in.

Condition Report:
[The following condition report has been prepared by Jane McAusland ACR FIIC, Conservator and Restorer of Art on Paper, Nether Hall Barn, Old Newton, Nr Stowmarket
Suffolk IP14 4PP

UNCONDITIONAL AND WITHOUT PREJUDICE

Support
This drawing is on a thick, wove paper. The sheet is generally time stained with a slightly mottled area in the centre and shows a mount stain towards the edges. There is some skinning on the right and at the top edges where a mount has been pulled off in the past and the remains of glue show in these areas. The verso has a white mottled area where it appears someone, in the past, has attempted to clean the sheet. This has some effect on the front which is slightly mottled in this area as mentioned above. The verso also has the remains of two parts of a label on the right edge.

Medium
The medium is in a good condition. The signature has faded and has been a little retouched in places. This probably also took place when cleaning was attempted as mentioned above.

This work is ready to hang
Presented framed and glazed.]

Catalogue Note:
Executed in 1884, the present work depicts Arachne, a young woman who, according to an ancient Greek myth, challenged the goddess Athena to a weaving contest. In case of defeat, Arachne promised she would willingly forfeit all and let Athena decide her fate. When both contestants had completed their work, Athena was unable to find a flaw in the undeniably skillful tapestry Arachne had woven. She was, however, enraged by the content of the work, for Arachne had chosen to illustrate the stories and corruption of the wicked Gods. Athena tore the work to pieces and struck the girl repeatedly until, overcome with despair, Arachne hung herself from a beam. Moved by compassion, Athena brought her back to life but fated her to weave forever in the new form of a spider.

In addition to the present work, Gysis completed one other known drawing and one oil of the same subject, both dated 1884. Though the works differ greatly, the expression replicated in all three is a focal point of each work. With magnetic and somewhat daring eyes, Arachne glances outside the scope of the work, awaiting her imminent punishment. Though her bare limbs are elegantly and delicately depicted, they are imbued with a sense of insect-like rigidity as she raises her arms to hold up her completed work which foreshadows her transformation into a spider. Her immobile limbs stand in stark contrast to her eyes which are filled with emotion and movement.

Provenance:
Private collection, Athens