The Peri's First Pilgrimage

About this work

This painting shows three women in a dim, misty forest. The woman on the left kneels, wearing a red dress with gold trim and a blue sash. Behind her, another woman in a pale blue gown holds a staff and looks upward. To the right, a third woman in a flowing white dress floats slightly above the ground, her face turned away. The trees loom dark in the background, while sunlight filters through the leaves in soft patches. Notice how the artist uses light and shadow to create a dreamy, almost ghostly mood. The kneeling woman’s face is half-lit, while the floating figure glows faintly, as if lit from within. Look up *chiaroscuro* next to see how this lighting trick works.