Photos: Jonathan Russell.

The ‘oreads’ were deities from Greek mythology, usually inhabiting remote mountains and ravines, but also associated with lowland areas or even the sea, and who joined in wild hunts or guided travellers through difficult terrain. Some were immortal, other lived only for as long at the tree they inhabited lived.

The work is titled ‘The Oreades’ in the 1923 catalogue, although the work is usually titles ‘Oreads’ or ‘The Oreads’ subsequently, which is gramatically, Les Oreades being the French spelling.

• Media: oil on canvas.
• Dimensions: 1778 mm diameter (1.8 m²).
• History: exhibited Royal Academy, 1907; Manchester Academy Autumn Exhibition, 1910; bought by and presented to the Tate by John Singer Sargent, 1922; exhibited Manchester Art Gallery 1923, “Painted at Rome”; exhibited Manchester Art Gallery, 23 Feb 2018 to 6 Jan 2019; Tate Britain, November 2022, “Spotlights: Annie Swynnerton” exhibition.
• Location: Tate.

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