''The Destruction of the Children of Niobe'' is a painting by Richard Wilson, created in 1760. It depicts the Greek myth of the murder of Niobe's daughters by the goddess Artemis and her sons by Apollo. The painting won acclaim for Wilson, who obtained many commissions from British landowners seeking classical portrayals of their estates. In 1761, publisher John Boydell hired

William Woollett William Woollett (15 August 173523 May 1785) was an English engraver operating in the 18th century. Life Woolett was born in Maidstone, of a family which came originally from the Netherlands. He was apprenticed to John Tinney, an engraver i ...

, the foremost engraver in England, to make a print of Wilson's ''Niobe''.Clayton
Boydell wanted a spectacular print to demonstrate the capability of English engravers, and he paid Woollett approximately £100 for the Niobe engraving, a staggering amount compared to the usual rates. This single act of patronage raised engravers' fees throughout London.Bruntjen, 20 Wilson's painting of ''Niobe'' is currently in the collection of Ashridge House in Herfortshire.

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*Bruntjen, Sven Hermann Arnold. ''John Boydell (1719–1804): A Study of Art Patronage and Publishing in Georgian London''. New York: Garland Publishing, 1985. . *Clayton, Timothy.
John Boydell (1720–1804)
. '' Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'' (subscription required). Oxford University Press. 2004. Retrieved on 19 November 2007. . * (1908 edition 2:1012–1013.) 1760 paintings Paintings about death Paintings of Apollo Paintings depicting Diana (mythology) Horses in art Water in art English paintings {{18C-painting-stub