The Queen of Paphos - Erycine : in Heart Did Rose-Cheeked Adon Love

Bell was Head of the Decorative Arts Department at Liverpool School of Architecture and Applied Arts (1894 - 1899). From the turn of the 20th century he focused on religious, mythological and allegorical subjects. This drawing is a design for an illustration for an anonymous poem, 'The Queen of Paphos, Erycine', included in the book 'English Lyrics from Spenser to Milton', by John Dennis, published by George Bell & Sons in 1898. Erycine is a version of the Roman goddess Venus (Venus Erycina), and Adon is an abbreviation of Adonis, who is her mortal lover. Adonis is shown with one of his attributes, a spear.