Artwork

Adonis

Adonis, oil, 1650
Adonis, oil, 1650

Adonis is an oil painting. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. The oil painting portrays a youthful figure standing amid a natural landscape, clutching a long staff in his right hand.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

As an anonymous oil-on-panel piece held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, it represents the traditional artistic treatment of the Adonis narrative.

The painting depicts Adonis, a figure from classical mythology, presented as a mythological subject. Created in 1650 in the Low Countries, the work belongs to the genre of mythological painting. As an anonymous oil-on-panel piece held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, it represents the traditional artistic treatment of the Adonis narrative.

The subject matter focuses on the mythological character himself, aligning with the conventions of 17th-century Dutch mythological art.

Technique & Style

Created in 1650 within the Low Countries, this mythological painting depicts the figure of Adonis. The work is executed in oil paint on a panel support. Physically, the composition measures 150 cm in height and 112 cm in width.

The piece is currently held by the Rijksmuseum, also known as the National Art Gallery of the Netherlands. While the specific artist remains anonymous, the object is classified as a painting representing subjects from classical mythology.

History & Provenance

The painting titled Adonis was created in 1650 in the Low Countries using oil paint on panel. It depicts the mythological figure Adonis and falls within the mythological painting genre. The work measures 150 centimeters in height and 112 centimeters in width.

It has been part of the collection at the Rijksmuseum and the National Art Gallery of the Netherlands.

The artwork was made in the Low Countries and is classified as a painting from the 17th century. Its material consists of oil paint applied to a wooden panel, consistent with techniques of the period.

The piece was later acquired by the Rijksmuseum and the National Art Gallery of the Netherlands, where it remains in their shared collection.

The painting was likely commissioned or produced during the mid-17th century, aligning with the artistic activity in the Low Countries at that time.

The painting is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, the National Art Gallery of the Netherlands. It is catalogued as an anonymous mythological work on panel, dated 1650, and depicts Adonis. No specific inventory or accession number is recorded in the available sources, and no exhibition history is documented.

Overview

The oil painting portrays a youthful figure standing amid a natural landscape, clutching a long staff in his right hand. He wears a dark tunic and is accompanied by a dog at his side. Behind them, a line of trees rises beneath a cloud‑filled sky, rendered in muted earth tones that convey a gentle, pastoral atmosphere.

Context

While specific provenance details are unavailable, the painting aligns with 19th‑century academic traditions that favored mythological subjects rendered in a realistic, naturalistic manner. Its emphasis on pastoral elements and careful modeling reflects the period’s interest in harmonizing classical narratives with contemporary, bucolic settings.

Venus and Adonis
Venus and Adonis, Ferdinand Bol

Artist & collection

Rijksmuseum

Museum

Rijksmuseum

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This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Rijksmuseum open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I see Adonis?

Adonis is held by Rijksmuseum.

What movement is Adonis?

Adonis is associated with Early Baroque Italian.