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Myth Apollo Issa De Lairesse Paint 17/18th Century Oil on canvas Old master Art

1680-1730

About the Item

Gérard de Lairesse (Liège 1641 - Amsterdam 1711) workshop The Myth of Apollo and Issa (from Ovid, Metamorphoses, book VI, 122-124) Oil on canvas 65 x 82 cm. - Framed 84 x 99 cm. The painting presented here illustrates a little-known but fascinating Greek myth, taken from a passage in Metamorphoses (book VI, 122-124), the famous mythological poem by the Latin poet Ovid, which tells of the passion between the god Apollo and the young mortal Issa. It is said that Apollo fell in love at first sight with the beautiful shepherdess Issa (daughter of Macareus), approached her while she was tending her flocks and transformed himself into a simple shepherd in order to seduce her without frightening her with his divine nature. The moment depicted is when the god revealed his divine identity, showing himself in all his splendour, wrapped in a red cloth and with his ever-present bow, and the girl, as his beloved, also takes on the features of a deity. The two lovers are surrounded by fluttering cherubs playing with soap bubbles, which in art symbolise beauty but also fragility: in our case, they allude to the brevity of love between gods and humans, passionate but inexorably destined to end quickly. An analysis of the compositional and stylistic characteristics of the painting, including the brilliance of its execution, the classical elegance of its forms and the quality of its colours, easily attributes it to Gérard de Lairesse (Liège, 1641 – 1711), a Dutch painter and engraver of the Golden Age, admired for his markedly classicist and academic style, which earned him the nickname “the Dutch Poussin”. Although his basic training was Flemish in style, given his attendance at the School of Liège, his works are imbued with a marked classicist taste, where the French and Italian influence of Nicolas Poussin (1594-1665) was decisive, with whom we can already see strong affinities at first glance. Worth mentioning is the beautiful landscape setting of the scene, with ruins of classical architecture and sculptures that emphasise the Italianate style of Arcadian taste, so beloved by 17th-century European collectors. De Lairesse moved to Amsterdam, where he concentrated his activity between 1665 and 1689 thanks to a prolific workshop with a considerable number of pupils. Here he was celebrated for his ability to translate the principles of classical art theory into vast mythological and allegorical compositions, much appreciated by the patrons of the time, who reflected the political, intellectual and aristocratic elite of the era. The most prestigious commissions came from the court and the high nobility, where his mythological themes were used to elevate the status of his patrons through parallels with classical deities and virtues: William III of Orange, for example, commissioned him to paint a series of mythological scenes on the theme of love for the rooms of his wife, Mary Stuart, in the royal palace of Soestdijk. He produced a large number of works for the patrician residences of Amsterdam, almost exclusively of a mythological nature, favouring episodes from Ovid's Metamorphoses, often interpreted in a gallant key, where he frequently included portraits of the owners of the houses in the guise of classical deities. Given the well-defined features of the faces of the two protagonists, which suggest a portraiture intent, our work could easily fall into this category. Good condition. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Not signed The painting is sold complete with a pleasant gilded frame We arrange and organise the transport of purchased works, both in Italy and abroad, through professional and insured carriers. If you would like to see this or other works in person, we would be delighted to welcome you to our new gallery in Riva del Garda, at Viale Giuseppe Canella 18. We look forward to seeing you! Please contact us for any information or to arrange a visit, we will be happy to assist you.
  • Creation Year:
    1680-1730
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 33.08 in (84 cm)Width: 38.98 in (99 cm)
  • Medium:
    Oil
  • Movement & Style:
    Old Masters
  • Circle Of:
    Gérard de Lairesse (Liège 1641 - Amsterdam 1711)
  • Period:
    17th Century
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Riva del Garda, IT
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU988117738302