On-line gallery
- Reference number
- P02320
- Author
- Poussin, Nicholas (French)
- Title
- Atalanta and Meleager's Hunt
- Chronology
- 1637-1638
- Technique
- Support
- Measures
- 160 cm x 360 cm
- School
- Theme
- Shown
- Yes
- Entrance
- COLECCION REAL
- Procedence
- Royal Collection
This scene drawn from Ovid's
Metamorphosis depicts an episode
from the myth of Meleager and
Atalanta: the moment when the
expedition organized by Meleager
goes off in search of the wild boar
sent by Diana, the Roman goddess of
the hunt, to devastate the mythical
kingdom of Calydon as vengeance for
not having honored her
altars.
The protagonists, accompanied by
other classical heroes, are at the
right of the composition. Atalanta
is blond and wears a blue dress and
a helmet. A statue of the goddess
of the hunt presides over the
center of the scene along with two
of her symbols: a bow and some
arrows. A city is visible in the
background and, at the right, a
statue of a satyr playing a syrinx.
Atalanta was the first to wound the
beast, and Meleager finished him
off. Impressed by Atalanta's
beauty, he offered the animal's
pelt and head to her as a trophy.
This act led to his death.
The elegant, unhurried composition
recalls classical low reliefs, with
their characteristic contained
dynamism.
This painting is paired with the
Sacrifice to Priapus, now in the
Museum of Art in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Both works are listed in the 1701
inventory of Madrid's Buen Retiro
Palace, where they were part of the
decoration of “stories of Rome.”
Location on the map
