Hylas and the Nymphs

Signed bottom right: A Falguière

Hylas had gone to draw water from a well when he was abducted by nymphs who, captivated by his beauty, pulled him under the water. In this pastoral scene by the painter and sculptor Alexandre Falguière, a sense of threat comes from the rocky arch that partly blocks the sky, while the nude figures stand out against the background of dark grass. Rodin, who was particularly fond of this painting, hung it over the fireplace in the dining room of his villa in Meudon―but without the original too-large frame, which is why the painting’s unfinished sides are visible. Rodin’s collection included four other paintings by Falguière, making him the artist best represented in the collection. His characteristic habit of painting then scratching his surfaces resonated with Rodin’s experimental approach.

Locate the artwork in the museum

Musée Rodin - Meudon, villa des Brillants, ground floor

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