Mrs Worrell as Hebe c. 1775 - 1778

Editor: Here we have Benjamin West’s "Mrs Worrell as Hebe." I’m struck by the almost dreamlike quality, the soft focus, and how Mrs. Worrell seems so composed, despite having an eagle right behind her. What do you make of this interpretation of Greek mythology? Curator: Well, it whispers of Neoclassicism, doesn't it? The controlled emotion, the idealized form... Hebe, the goddess of youth, forever serving nectar to the gods. But look closer; it's not just about flawless beauty. It's about the weight of immortality, perhaps? That slightly melancholic gaze... What do you see there? Editor: Now that you mention it, there's a sadness in her eyes, like she's burdened by her eternal role. Curator: Exactly! And West, bless his heart, captures that human element within the divine. It's a gentle nudge, reminding us that even in myth, there's a bit of ourselves to be found. Editor: I hadn't considered it that way before! It’s like the painting holds a mirror to our own longings for something more. Curator: Precisely! It is a reminder that art can reveal deeper truths if we dare to look closely.