George Frederic Watts

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Nymphs were female deities who lived either in the waters of the earth or on land. They were immortal and were generally thought of as young, beautiful virgins. Satyrs were demigods of the land with the heads of men but with the feet and legs of goats. They were most often in the company of Bacchus, the god of wine, and were leading participants in his riotous and lascivious orgies. Here, the satyr plays his pipe for the Bacchanalian dance.

Gallery label, January 1990

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