Who painted Adonis Slain?

Adonis Slain was painted by Cornelius van Poelenburgh in 1638.

Where can I see Adonis Slain?

Adonis Slain is held by Statens Museum for Kunst.

What movement is Adonis Slain?

Adonis Slain is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Artwork

Adonis Slain

Cornelius van Poelenburgh , 1638

Adonis Slain is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Cornelius van Poelenburgh. It dates from 1638 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.

About this work

Overview

Adonis Slain is a 1638 oil painting by Cornelius van Poelenburgh, a Dutch Golden Age artist known for small-scale, mythologically themed landscapes. The work depicts a dramatic moment from the Adonis myth within an Italianate setting.

Subject & Meaning

The painting dramatizes a pivotal moment in the Adonis myth, capturing a scene of sudden urgency or distress. Figures include a leaping nude (likely Adonis), a seated onlooker, and a prone figure, accompanied by dogs, set against a contrasting backdrop of turmoil (stormy sky) and serenity (distant landscape).

Technique & Style

Van Poelenburgh employs chiaroscuro to separate and emphasize the figures through stark light and dark contrasts. The composition balances dynamic movement (the falling figure) with static elements (the seated and lying figures), characteristic of the artist’s Italianate landscape style.

History & Provenance

Created in 1638, Adonis Slain is part of the collection at Statens Museum for Kunst, reflecting the museum’s holdings of European Golden Age art.