Artwork

Apollo flaying Marsyas (Ovid, Metamorphoses, VI, 382–400)

Apollo flaying Marsyas (Ovid, Metamorphoses, VI, 382–400), by Jacob Adriaensz Backer, unspecified, 1639
Apollo flaying Marsyas (Ovid, Metamorphoses, VI, 382–400), by Jacob Adriaensz Backer, unspecified, 1639

Apollo flaying Marsyas (Ovid, Metamorphoses, VI, 382–400) is an unspecified painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Jacob Adriaensz Backer. It dates from 1639 and is held in the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw.

About this work

Overview

Created around 1639 by Jacob Adriaensz Backer, a Dutch Golden Age painter, this work illustrates a dramatic scene from Ovid's Metamorphoses.

Subject & Meaning

The painting depicts Apollo punishing Marsyas, a satyr, by flaying him alive after losing a musical contest, conveying a scene of intense violence and agony.

Technique & Style

Characterized by dramatic composition and detailed human anatomy, the work showcases Backer's skillful use of chiaroscuro, adding depth and tension to the scene.

Context

Influenced by contemporaries like Rubens and Bloemaert, Backer's work is part of the Dutch Golden Age tradition, which often featured mythological and religious themes.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Jacob Adriaensz Backer

Artist

Jacob Adriaensz Backer

Jacob Adriaensz Backer (1608 – 27 August 1651) was a Dutch Golden Age painter. He produced about 140 paintings in twenty years, including portraits, religious subjects, and mythological paintings. In his style, he was…

Frequently asked questions

Who painted Apollo flaying Marsyas (Ovid, Metamorphoses, VI, 382–400)?

Apollo flaying Marsyas (Ovid, Metamorphoses, VI, 382–400) was painted by Jacob Adriaensz Backer in 1639.

Where can I see Apollo flaying Marsyas (Ovid, Metamorphoses, VI, 382–400)?

Apollo flaying Marsyas (Ovid, Metamorphoses, VI, 382–400) is held by National Museum in Warsaw.

What movement is Apollo flaying Marsyas (Ovid, Metamorphoses, VI, 382–400)?

Apollo flaying Marsyas (Ovid, Metamorphoses, VI, 382–400) is associated with Dutch Golden Age.