The Early History of Man in a Cycle of Paintings by Piero di Cosimo

Abstract

A n early painting by Piero di Cosimo, acquired in 1932 by the Wadsworth Atheneum at Hartford, Connecticut, is generally supposed to represent the myth of Hylas and the nymphs (P1. Ia).' To this interpretation there are several objections. Hylas was the handsome favourite of Hercules, whom he accompanied on the Argonautic expedition. In Mysia, in the Propontis, Hercules, Hylas, and, according to some writers, Telamon left the ship together and ventured into the woods,, allegedly because Hercules, owing to his enormous strength, had broken his oar and wanted a tree for a new one. Here they separated because Hylas had to fetch water for the evening meal. But when he had come to the river Ascanius (or Cius), the naiads fell in love with his beauty and dragged him down to share their crystalline dwelling. He was never seen again, and Hercules strayed through the woods calling for him in vain, from which originated a local rite implying a solemnly pathetic invocation of the lost youth, " ut litus Hyla, Hyla omne sonaret."2 In an artistic interpretation of this subject, then, we should expect to find the following features which are indeed characteristic of all the known representations of the Hylas myth :3 first of all, the presence of a vase or other vessel, which would indicate the purpose of Hylas' errand ; secondly, the predominance of water in the scenery ; thirdly, an amorous aggressiveness on the part of the naiads ; and, fourthly, a struggling reluctance on the part of Hylas. None of these features are present in the HartfPrd picture. No pitcher or vase is depicted. The scene is laid on a flowery meadow. The stretch of water appearing in the left background is merely a " landscape-motif" quite unrelated to the main incident. The six maidens show no amorous excitement whatever. They seem to have been suddenly interrupted in the peaceful pursuits of gathering flowers and walking with their little dog ; so sudden is the interruption that the two on the right drop the flowers they were carrying in their billowing draperies. Of these six maidens, the one