WASHINGTON ALLSTON (BRITISH 1779-1843)THE LEGEND OF NESSUS AND DEJANIRAOil on canvas94 x 124cm (37 x 48¾ in.)In Greek mythology, Dejanira or Deianira was a Calydonian princess. The current picture tells the story of the centaur Nessus who attempted to rape her by the river Euenos, but she was rescued by Heracles, who shot the centaur with a poisoned arrow. As he lay dying, Nessus persuaded Dejanira to take a sample of his blood, telling her that a 'love potion' of it would ensure that Heracles, her husband, would never again be unfaithful. When she later feared that her husband would leave her forever, she smeared some of the poisoned blood on Heracles' shirt, which eventually killed him. In despair, she then took her own life.品相报告: Canvas has been relined. Surface dirt and discolouration of the varnish. Areas of craquelure mainly visible in the upper right quarter in the sky, including diagonal and curving lines of previously upstanding paint. Stretcher marks clearly visible and retouched in areas. A restored tear starting in the shrubbery slightly lower left of centre and running up to the right of the central figure and curling back in to the centre slightly below the central clouds. Another restored tear starting slightly above the mountain range on the right and running down through the landscape nearly to the lower right corner. UV reveals several other retouches, including a large retouched area in the shrubbery below the two left figures.