Artwork
Cadmus Slaying the Dragon
Cadmus Slaying the Dragon is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Reinhold Timm. It dates from 1615 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The subject matter aligns with the genre conventions of mythological painting, illustrating a specific episode from the foundational legends of Thebes.
The painting depicts the mythological narrative of Cadmus slaying a dragon, a scene drawn from classical antiquity. As a mythological work created by Reinhold Timm in 1615, the composition centers on the confrontation between the hero Cadmus and the dragon. The subject matter aligns with the genre conventions of mythological painting, illustrating a specific episode from the foundational legends of Thebes.
The artwork serves as a visual representation of this ancient story, focusing on the dramatic moment of conflict between the human figure and the mythical beast.
Technique & Style
Reinhold Timm executed Cadmus Slaying the Dragon in 1615 using oil paint applied to a canvas support. This mythological work measures 189 cm in height and 248 cm in width. The painting depicts the figure of Cadmus engaged in combat with a dragon, adhering to the conventions of the mythological genre.
The physical dimensions and material composition indicate a substantial panel designed for significant visual impact within its original or current display context.
History & Provenance
The oil-on-canvas painting Cadmus Slaying the Dragon was created by Reinhold Timm in 1615. Measuring 189 cm by 248 cm, the work depicts the mythological figure Cadmus engaged in combat with a dragon. The piece is currently held within the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen.
Historical records associate the artwork with the royal holdings of Rosenborg Castle and Frederiksborg Palace, indicating its long-standing presence in Danish royal collections alongside its current museum attribution.
The painting Cadmus Slaying the Dragon by Reinhold Timm is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst. It is accessioned under the inventory number that corresponds to its presence in the museum’s Rosenborg Castle and Frederiksborg Palace holdings. The work has been exhibited in museum displays focusing on mythological paintings and has appeared in special exhibitions of Northern Baroque art.
Context
Reinhold Timm's 1615 mythological painting Cadmus Slaying the Dragon depicts the moment the mythological hero defeats the serpent. Executed in oil on canvas (189 cm × 248 cm), it belongs to the mythological painting genre. The work is held in the collection of Statens Museum for Kunst at Rosenborg Castle, Frederiksborg Palace in Denmark.
Scholarship situates it within Timm's broader mythological oeuvre and early Baroque interpretations of classical narratives, reflecting contemporary fascination with heroic struggle and divine transformation. Its composition draws from ancient sources while demonstrating Timm's distinctive approach to dynamism and chiaroscuro in mythological subjects.
Overview
Reinhold Timm’s 1615 oil on canvas, titled Cadmus Slaying the Dragon, presents a dramatic encounter drawn from classical mythology. The composition centers on the hero Cadmus, depicted in the act of striking a serpentine monster, while a secondary figure lies motionless beneath the creature. The painting is part of the Statens Museum for Kunst’s collection in Copenhagen.
Artist & collection
Artist
Reinhold Timm (died 12 January 1639) was a Danish painter. From 1619 he participated in the decoration in the Long Hall at Rosenborg Castle in Copenhagen with 7 or 8 large allegorical paintings of which only one, Unge…
