Sir William Blake Richmond, R.A.

Given by the artist to William Holman Hunt; thence to Mrs Michael Joseph née Gladys Millais Mulock Holman Hunt; thence to Mrs Elisabeth Burt; thence by descent

This wonderfully informal view of the temple of Nike Apteros in Athens was painted towards the end of Richmond's extensive journey through Italy, Greece and Libya in 1887 - one of the the most ambitious trips of his life. His destination was the Fifth Century Coptic monastery of Wadi Natroun and although it is not known whether he reached the end of the journey through the desert, he certainly strode out with every intention to reach it. His return journey brought him to the island of Crete and on to Athens and Morea. This painting, the only one known to exist from the Greek part of Richmond's voyage, was given to his friend William Holman Holman Hunt who was a regular visitor to Richmond's home, Beavor Lodge. Hunt was a dear friend but members of the Richmond household became increasingly weary of him demonstrating his ability to detach his subconscious from his physical body - a talent he had learnt in the Holy Land years earlier but as he grew older he found it increasingly difficult to re-enter his body.

The diminutive temple of Nike Apteros (meaning 'the wingless Nike') also known as the temple of Athena Nike, is situated on the south-west corner of the Acropolis. It was designed by one of the architects of the Parthenon, Callicrates and constructed between 427BC and 424BC. It housed a statue of Athena Nike and is built in pentelic marble with Ionic columns.