Man Flayed

Artist William Williams (England, active 1763 - 1800)

Date1798

Mediumink, chalk & wash on stained paper

ClassificationsPaintings And Drawings

Dimensions10 x 16 3/4 inches

AcquisitionPresented in 1957 by Miss Lizzie Hogarth.

CopyrightOut of copyright - CC0

LocationHistoric Loss - research into this object's history and current status is ongoing

Object numberABDAG017691

About MeOne of 99 drawings on 92 leaves of paper from a sketchbook used by William Williams.

The scene is set in a classical architectural setting, with a number of figure groups making up the composition. The central scene features a man on a table who is nude except for a loin cloth, He's on a table with feet bound, hands bound behind back and upper part of body is raised up, he is being tortured by four men. To the right of the drawing a Roman soldier presses back a small thong, including a woman and children. In the background a Roman official sat on a dias appears to be looking on. Spectators are looking on from podium of a temple in the middle distance. This possibly features an incident from St Paul's life.

This drawing, along with 46 other leaves from the same sketchbook, is now untraced. Aberdeen Art Gallery & Museums is keen to reunite the drawings as one album. If you have any information relating to the current whereabouts of this work please contact Aberdeen Art Gallery.