Hylas and the Water Nymphs,

The drawing is part of a series of just under a dozen sketched variations on the Hylas motif. The sources inspiring it were as usual primarily visual and once more there is no doubt that Thorvaldsen learned from two of his artist colleagues and friends from the early years in Rome, Asmus Jacob Carstens and Joseph Anton Koch. In addition, Hylas’ posture is one with many ancient models. In 1831, Thorvaldsen made a relief of the motif that comes close to this drawing, in which both vegetation and water play a role quite subsidiary to the group of figures.