Richard Earlom (1743-1822) According to a Painting by George Romney (1734-1802), ALOPE, 1787

Spotted copperplate, etching/paper, 30 x 33.8 cm (sheet)
below composition in center, title and publishing address: ALOPE./Publshed Aug.st 1.st 1787 by John & Josiah Boydell Cheapside London; below composition on left: George Romney Pinxit; on right: Rich.d Earlom Sculpsit; at bottom, text in two columns: CERCYON was a famous Robber in the Country of Attica in Greece / he possessed such bodily strength, that he could bend & fasten together the / strongest Trees. He had a Daughter named ALOPE, who had a son by // Neptune called HIPPOTHOON, at which Cercyon was so much enraged, that / he exposed the Child to the Wild Beasts in the Woods. This famous Robber was at / last Conquer'd and put to Death by Theseus, in a Wrestling match at Æleusis. / Plutarch_Theseus Ovid's Metam. b. 7. F. 23. V. 439 1 bis 7 4 II
state of preservation very good
In the painting, which is the prototype of the presented engraving, George Romney immortalized Emma Hamilton, wife of Sir William Hamilton and mistress of Lord Nelson, with whom she had a child, under the figure of Alope.
The mythical story corresponds with the complicated emotional life of Lady Hamilton. Alope was depicted with her son Hippothoon, whose father was Poseidon. Fleeing the wrath of her own father Cercyon, the woman was turned into a spring by Poseidon.