Flemish School (XVII) - Pyramus and Thisbe

• At the bottom lies Pyramus lying on the ground, dressed in a blue tunic and wrapped in a red cloak. His stretched posture and pale face denote his agonizing state or being already dead. In his left hand he holds a white veil stained with blood, a key element of the mythological misapprehension.
• To the right, Thisbe hurls herself toward him in despair. She wears a white tunic with a purple mantle billowing in the wind, which adds a strong sense of movement to the scene. Her face reflects horror and surprise upon discovering the body, while a sword or a large arrow pierces her chest, foreshadowing her own suicide by love.
• The setting and the fountain: On the left stands a monumental stone fountain from which a steady jet of water gushes. The fountain is adorned with a sculpture resembling a big fish or dolphin with an open mouth. Behind it rises a dense, dark grove, whose branches twist and cover much of the background.
• Color and atmosphere: The color palette uses predominantly dark, earthy, and greenish tones for the landscape, creating a somber, nocturnal mood. This produces a strong chiaroscuro contrast with the characters’ garments, where the intense reds, blues, and the bright white of the fabrics immediately draw the viewer’s attention to the tragedy.
Unframed dimensions: 19 in wide x about 24 in.
PINTURA OLEO SOBRE COBRE SIGLO XVIII