Artwork
Silvio, Dorinda and Linco
Silvio, Dorinda and Linco is an ink drawing by the Baroque artist Johann Wilhelm Baur. It dates from 1640 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Johann Wilhelm Baur’s drawing *Silvio, Dorinda and Linco* was executed in 1640 with pen and brown ink, enhanced by a brown wash on laid paper. The work captures a brief episode from Giovanni Battista Guarini’s pastoral tragicomedy *Il pastor fido*, presenting three characters in a moment of emotional tension.
Subject & Meaning
The composition brings together Silvio, Dorida, and Linco, three figures from Guarini’s play. Linco leans forward, his eyes reflecting anxiety, while Dorida looks away, suggesting contemplation or distraction. Silvio’s posture anchors the group, creating a subtle narrative of concern and anticipation within the pastoral setting.
Technique & Style
Baur employs fine, controlled pen lines to model faces and garments, allowing each expression to emerge through delicate cross‑hatching. The brown wash adds tonal depth without overwhelming the drawing, while the laid‑paper surface contributes a textured backdrop that enhances the sketch‑like immediacy of the scene.
History & Provenance
Created the same year Baur died in Vienna, the drawing belongs to the final phase of his career, when he was active as an engraver, etcher, and miniature painter. It reflects the same illustrative interest seen in his series of drawings for Ovid’s *Metamorphoses*, although this piece remains a standalone study rather than a printed illustration.
Context
*Il pastor fido* was a popular source for visual artists in the early seventeenth century, offering dramatic pastoral narratives that could be rendered quickly for private collections. Baur’s choice to work in a sketch format rather than a finished painting aligns with the period’s practice of producing preparatory or collectible studies for literary subjects.
Artist & collection
Artist
Johann Wilhelm Baur, Joan Guiliam Bouwer, or Bauer (Strasbourg, 31 May 1607 - Vienna, 1 January 1640) was a German engraver, etcher and miniature painter. He is famous for a series of illustrations of Ovid's Metamorphoses.
