Workshop of Gérard de Lairesse, Myth of Apollo & Isse, 1700, Oil on Canvas

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Gérard de lairesse (liège 1641 - amsterdam 1711) workshop
the myth of apollo and isse (from ovid, metamorphoses, book vi, … Read more Gérard de lairesse (liège 1641 - amsterdam 1711) workshop
the myth of apollo and isse (from ovid, metamorphoses, book vi, 122-124)

oil on canvas (65 x 82 cm - framed 84 x 99 cm)

full details of the painting (click here)

the painting presented here illustrates a little-known but fascinating greek myth, taken from a passage in metamorphoses (book vi, 122-124), a famous mythological poem by the latin poet ovid, which tells of the passion between the god apollo and the young mortal isse.

it is said that apollo falls in love at first sight with the beautiful shepherdess isse (daughter of macareus), approaches her while she is tending her flock, and transforms himself into a simple shepherd to seduce her without frightening her with his divine nature. The moment depicted is when god revealed himself as divine, appearing in all his splendor, wrapped in a red cloth and with his ever-present bow, and the girl, his beloved, also takes on the features of a divinity.

the two lovers are surrounded by fluttering cherubs intent on playing with soap bubbles, which in art symbolize beauty but also fragility: in our case, they allude to the brevity of love between gods and men, passionate but inexorably destined to end quickly.

an analysis of the painting's compositional and stylistic features, including the brilliance of its execution, the classical elegance of its forms, and the quality of its colors, easily traces its execution to gérard de lairesse (liège, 1641–1711), a dutch golden age painter and engraver admired for his markedly classicist and academic style, which earned him the nickname "the dutch poussin."

although his basic training was flemish—given his attendance at the liège school—his works are imbued with a distinct classicist flavor, marked by the decisive french and italian influence of nicolas poussin (1594–1665), with whom we can immediately discern strong affinities.

the beautiful landscape surrounding the scene is noteworthy, with its ruins of classical architecture and sculptures emphasizing 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 students. There, 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 time.

the most prestigious commissions came from the court and the high nobility, where his mythological themes were used to elevate the status of their patrons through parallels with classical deities and virtues: william iii of orange, for example, commissioned a series of mythological scenes with a love theme for the rooms of his wife, mary stuart, in the royal palace of soestdijk.

he created a large number of works for the patrician homes of amsterdam, almost exclusively mythological in nature, favoring episodes from ovid's metamorphoses, often interpreted in a gallant manner, often including portraits of the owners of the house as classical deities. Our work, given the well-defined facial features of the two protagonists, which suggest a portraiture intent, could easily fall into this category.

good condition.

additional information:

the painting is sold complete with a beautiful gilded frame and comes with a certificate of authenticity and an iconographic .

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if you would like to view this or other works in person, we would be happy to welcome you to our new gallery in riva del garda, at viale giuseppe canella 18. We look forward to seeing you!

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https://www.facebook.com/galleriacastelbarco/ this piece is attributed to the mentioned designer/maker. It has no attribution mark and no
official proof of authenticity,
however it is well documented in design history. I take full responsibility for any authenticity



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