The Rape of Proserpine

between 18th and 19th century

Benjamin West American, 1738-1820

Not On View

The Rape of Proserpine: 1 of Collection Gallery

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About the Artwork

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Markings

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Provenance

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Exhibition History

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Published References

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Catalogue Raisonné

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Credit Line for Reproduction

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About the Artwork

Title The Rape of Proserpine

Artwork Date between 18th and 19th century

Artist Benjamin West

Life Dates 1738-1820

Nationality Please note: Definitions for nationality may vary significantly, depending on chronology and world events. Some definitions include: Belonging to a people having a common origin based on a geography and/or descent and/or tradition and/or culture and/or religion and/or language, or sharing membership in a legally defined nation. American

Culture Please note: Cultures may be defined by the language, customs, religious beliefs, social norms, and material traits of a group. Unknown

Medium Pen and black ink and brown and blue wash over graphite pencil on laid paper

Dimensions Sheet: 4 3/4 × 6 3/16 inches (12.1 × 15.7 cm) Mount: 7 11/16 × 9 1/16 inches (19.5 × 23 cm)

Classification Drawings

Department Prints, Drawings & Photographs

Credit City of Detroit Purchase

Accession Number This unique number is assigned to an individual artwork as part of the cataloguing process at the time of entry into the permanent collection. Most frequently, accession numbers begin with the year in which the artwork entered the museum’s holdings. For example, 2008.3 refers to the year of acquisition and notes that it was the 3rd of that year. The DIA has a few additional systems—no longer assigned—that identify specific donors or museum patronage groups. 48.208

Markings

Inscriptions Inscribed, in pencil, on mount, lower center: Rape of Proserpine | by Benj West | signed on back Inscribed, in blue pencil, on mount, upper center, verso: WCA 106 Inscribed, in pen and brown ink, on mount, center, verso: The Rape of Proserpine [underlined] | Benj..West Inscribed, in pencil, on mount, lower left, verso: Produce of England

Marks Stamped, in black, on mount, lower right, verso: Sir Robert Witt (Lugt suppl. 2228b)

Provenance

1948-present, purchase by the Detroit Institute of Arts (Detroit, Michigan, USA)

For more information on provenance and its important function in the museum, please visit:

Provenance page

Exhibition History

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The exhibition history of a number of objects in our collection only begins after their acquisition by the museum, and may reflect an incomplete record.

We welcome your feedback for correction and/or improvement.

Suggest Feedback

Published References

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We regularly update our object record as new research and findings emerge, and we welcome your feedback for correction and/or improvement.

Suggest Feedback

Catalogue Raisoneé

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Credit Line for Reproduction

Benjamin West, The Rape of Proserpine, between 18th and 19th century, pen and black ink and brown and blue wash over graphite pencil on laid paper. Detroit Institute of Arts, City of Detroit Purchase, 48.208.