Baroque Oil Painting Depiction of Apollo and Marsyas Musical Duel and the Judgment of King Midas

Details

Description

18th-Century Italian Baroque Old Master Oil Painting — Apollo and Marsyas with the Judgment of King Midas
Mythological Musical Duel … Read more 18th-Century Italian Baroque Old Master Oil Painting — Apollo and Marsyas with the Judgment of King Midas
Mythological Musical Duel | After Filippo Lauri

Subject & Medium
A dramatic and evocative 18th-century oil on canvas, this Italian Baroque Old Master painting captures a legendary moment from classical mythology—the musical contest between Apollo, god of music , and Marsyas, the audacious Phrygian satyr . Rendered in the manner of Filippo Lauri, a prominent Roman Baroque painter, this work is a striking interpretation of divine rivalry, artistic ambition, and the price of hubris.

The Contest of Sound: Lyre vs. Aulos
The myth centers on Marsyas, who discovers the aulos (a double-reeded flute), possibly discarded by Athena. Entranced by its sound, Marsyas challenges Apollo, whose mastery of the lyre is unmatched. The stakes? The loser’s life.

The contest unfolds with tension—Apollo plays the cithara with elegance, while Marsyas gives his all with the flute. In some versions, King Midas or the Muses serve as judges. When Marsyas appears to gain favor, Apollo shifts the rules by singing while playing. Marsyas, unable to match this divine versatility, loses.

The Price of Hubris
As punishment, Apollo flays Marsyas alive, nailing his skin to a tree—a gruesome yet powerful symbol of mortal arrogance before the gods. The myth echoes other Greek cautionary tales: Arachne turned into a spider, Niobe’s children slain for her pride. In every instance, mortals who defy the gods pay dearly.

Cultural Legacy
Immortalized by ancient authors like Ovid, Apollodorus, and Plutarch, the tale of Apollo and Marsyas has resonated through the centuries. It remains a potent allegory of competition, creative rivalry, and divine justice.

️ Composition & Technique
Set in a wooded glade under a charged Baroque sky, the composition teems with movement. Apollo plays with poise while Marsyas grips his aulos in tense anticipation. King Midas sits in judgment near the satyr, intensifying the moment of verdict.

Executed in the Italian Old Master tradition, the painting showcases dynamic chiaroscuro, finely rendered anatomy, and expressive faces. The restrained yet vibrant palette and theatrical storytelling align with the style of Filippo Lauri and his Roman circle.

️ Frame Details
Presented in a richly ornamented antique gilt gesso frame with intricate scroll and foliate motifs.

Frame Dimensions: H: 72 cm × W: 97.5 cm × D: 4.5 cm
Weight: Approx. 9 kg (unwrapped)
The frame complements the historical gravitas of the work and is ready for wall display.

Signature & Attribution
Unsigned, as is common with studio or follower works of the period. Attributed to an Italian School artist working after Filippo Lauri (1623–1694), whose influence is evident in the composition’s refined figures and mythological depth.

About Filippo Lauri
A distinguished Roman Baroque painter, Lauri was known for his elegant figures and mythological subjects. Trained by his Flemish father and later by his brother-in-law Angelo Caroselli, Lauri became director of the Accademia di San Luca and collaborated with greats like Claude Lorrain. His works are celebrated for their narrative richness and theatrical finesse.

Provenance

From a private collection in Northern England
Previously sold through Tennants Auctioneers
Now part of the curated collection at Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD See less