Artwork
Die Befreiung der Andromeda
Die Befreiung der Andromeda is an unspecified painting by the French Classical Baroque artist Sébastien Bourdon. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Sébastien Bourdon's 1650 painting, Die Befreiung der Andromeda, is a mythological work that depicts the figure of Andromeda.
Sébastien Bourdon's 1650 painting, Die Befreiung der Andromeda, is a mythological work that depicts the figure of Andromeda. As indicated by its title, the subject matter centers on the narrative of her liberation. The piece falls within the genre of mythological painting, utilizing classical antiquity as its thematic foundation to represent the specific episode from Greek myth involving the rescue of the chained princess.
History & Provenance
Sébastien Bourdon painted Die Befreiung der Andromeda in 1650, depicting the mythological scene of Andromeda's liberation. The work is part of the Bavarian State Painting Collections and is housed in the Alte Pinakothek in Munich. Its dimensions are 111.2 cm in height and 140.5 cm in width.
The painting entered the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections, establishing a clear ownership chain within this institutional framework.
Overview
Die Befreiung der Andromeda is a 17th-century painting by French artist Sébastien Bourdon, executed around 1650 in the French Classical Baroque style.
Technique & Style
Characterized by the French Classical Baroque style, the painting features bright, vivid colors (notably red, blue, and gold) set against a dramatic, cloudy sky with a palm tree. The style blends the clarity of French Classical painting with the emotional intensity of Baroque.
Context
Part of a broader European tradition of depicting mythological subjects in the 17th century, Die Befreiung der Andromeda reflects the era’s fascination with classical myths as subjects for art. Bourdon’s style situates the work within the French artistic landscape of the time, distinct from but contemporaneous with other European Baroque movements.
Legacy
While Die Befreiung der Andromeda contributes to the 17th-century artistic canon, its impact is more nuanced compared to Bourdon’s more prominently known works like The Crucifixion of St. Peter. It remains a notable example of French Classical Baroque engagement with mythological themes.
Artist & collection
Artist
Sébastien Bourdon (French pronunciation:; 2 February 1616 – 8 May 1671) was a French painter and engraver. His chef d'œuvre is The Crucifixion of St. Peter made for the cathedral of Notre Dame.
- Apollo and Daphne
Paris's Judgement
Diana and Callisto with Nymphs
Messengers of Godfrey of Bouillon in Gardens of Armida
Bacchus și Ariadna
Helios and Phaeton with Saturn and the Four Seasons
Autumn
Diana and Actaeon
Bacchus and Ariadne
Laban Searching the Belongings of Jacob
A Gathering of Gods
Apollo in Love with Daphne