海拉斯对水中的仙女们感到惊讶

The Greek inscription on the pitcher held by the boy in this sculpture can be translated as ‘beautiful Hylas’. In Greek literature, Hylas was the youthful companion of the hero Heracles (Hercules). As he was fetching water from a spring, the water nymphs, or Naiads, were captivated by his beauty and pulled him into the water, so that he could always live with them. Gibson shows Hylas being seized by two water nymphs; the style and composition strongly recall the work of Canova, whom Gibson greatly admired.