Artwork
Rinaldo in love with Armida
Rinaldo in love with Armida is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist David Teniers the Younger. It dates from 1628 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting illustrates a scene from Torquato Tasso's epic poem Jerusalem Delivered, focusing on the enchantress Armida and the Crusader knight Rinaldo.
The painting illustrates a scene from Torquato Tasso's epic poem Jerusalem Delivered, focusing on the enchantress Armida and the Crusader knight Rinaldo. The composition features specific martial attributes, including a combat helmet, shield, and sword, which signify Rinaldo's identity as a warrior. These objects of war are juxtaposed with the figures to highlight the narrative moment where the hero succumbs to love, temporarily abandoning his military duties. The work visually represents the conflict between martial obligation and romantic enchantment central to the literary source.
Technique & Style
The painting is executed in oil on copper, measuring 27 cm in height and 39 cm in width. Its surface combines oil paint with copper leaf, creating a luminous effect typical of early 17th‑century decorative works. The composition depicts the narrative moment of Rinaldo’s affection for Armida, rendered with characteristic Baroque dynamism and rich coloration.
History & Provenance
David Teniers the Younger created the oil painting Rinaldo in love with Armida in 1628. The work depicts characters from Torquato Tasso's Jerusalem Delivered and is executed in oil paint on a copper leaf support. The piece entered the Spanish royal collection during the 18th century, with ownership traced to Philip V and Elisabeth Farnese.
It subsequently passed to Charles III and Ferdinand VII before reaching its current location within the Museo del Prado system, which includes holdings at the Royal Palace of Aranjuez and the Royal Palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso.
The painting is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado. Historical records indicate it was owned by a succession of Spanish monarchs, including Philip V, Elisabeth Farnese, Charles III, and Ferdinand VII. The work has been associated with several royal locations, specifically the Royal Palace of Aranjuez and the Royal Palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso, in addition to the main museum.
Overview
David Teniers the Younger painted Rinaldo in Love with Armida in 1628 using oil on canvas. The work is part of the collection at the Museo del Prado in Madrid. It presents a quiet encounter between the two literary figures set within a wooded landscape, accompanied by martial objects.
Context
Armida and Rinaldo are characters from Torquato Tasso’s epic poem Gerusalemme Liberata, popular among 17th‑century painters for their dramatic potential. Teniers, known primarily for genre scenes, occasionally turned to mythological and literary themes, integrating them into his characteristic naturalistic style.
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Artist & collection
Artist
David Teniers the Younger or David Teniers II was a Flemish Baroque painter, printmaker, and artist.
- Rinaldo și Armida
Rinaldo and Armida
Armida and Rinaldo
Medoro și Angelica. Pandant: Rinaldo și Armida
Rinaldos farewell from Armida
Carlo and Ubaldo Resisting the Enchantments of Armida's Nymphs
Rinaldo and Armida in Armida's magic garden, eavesdropped by Carlo and Ubaldo
Rinaldo și Armida. Pandant: Medoro și Angelica