On-line gallery
- Reference number
- P01546
- Author
- Jordaens, Jacob (Flemish)
- Title
- Meleager and Atalanta
- Chronology
- 1620-1650
- Technique
- Support
- Measures
- 151 cm x 241 cm
- School
- Theme
- Shown
- Yes
- Entrance
- COLECCION REAL
- Procedence
- Royal Collection
After killing the wild boar that
was ravaging the kingdom of
Calydon, Meleager offered its head
to Atalanta, of whom he was
enamored. But the hunter's uncles
considered themselves the rightful
recipients of that trophy. They
took it from her, provoking such
rage in Meleagrus that he killed
them.
Jordaens places the figure in the
foreground like a long running
frieze. In the group on the right,
Meleager's hand moves to his sword,
ready to begin the attack on his
own uncles, while Atalanta, with an
expression of fear, tries to stop
him.
On the left, the group of hunters
marks the composition's rhythm.
Their weapons, an arm and the
movement of their dogs draw the
viewer's gaze toward the main
event. The two parts of the
painting were made separately.
First, Jordaens painted the group
on the right, and their
characteristics belong to his
youth, when his works were
dominated by forceful and
monumental figures in the manner of
Rubens (1577-1640). The figures on
the left were painted on a piece of
canvas that was added to the other
group and belong to the artist's
late style.
This painting is not documented
until 1746, when it was at the La
Granja Palace.
Location on the map
