Atalanta

Artist James Pittendrigh Macgillivray (Inverurie, Scotland, 1856 - 1938)

Sitter Lady Margaret Sackville (London, England, 1881 - 1963)

Date1908

Mediumbronze bust on art gallery base

ClassificationsSculptures

DimensionsOverall: Height: 78.5 cm, Width: 46 cm, Depth: 34 cm
Plinth Size: Height: 121 cm, Width: 38 cm, Depth: 38.5 cm

AcquisitionPresented in 1914 by the family of George Carmichael.

CopyrightOut of copyright - CC0

LocationOn Loan

Object numberABDAG004667

Keywords

Female

About MeThe sitter for Atalanta by James Pittendrigh MacGillivray is the poetess Lady Margaret Sackville. She and MacGillivray shared a mutual admiration for each other's work. This dignified, idealised bust can only be considered a complement from MacGillivray to Lady Sackvile herself and her poetry.
According to Ovid's Metamorphosis, Atalanta was an athletic huntress who, when encouraged by her father to marry, made the condition that each suitor must face her in a race. If they lost, they were put to death. She was eventually beaten by one suitor, who dropped three golden apples during the race. She was so charmed by their beauty that she could not help but stop and gather them up.