Artwork
Cydippe with the Apple of Acontius
Cydippe with the Apple of Acontius is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Paulus Bor. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Overview
This oil painting depicts a solitary female figure, Cydippe, holding an apple, rendered with a dramatic interplay of light and shadow.
Paulus Bor, a Dutch Golden Age artist, created "Cydippe with the Apple of Acontius" around 1650. This oil painting depicts a solitary female figure, Cydippe, holding an apple, rendered with a dramatic interplay of light and shadow. The work, now part of the Rijksmuseum's collection, reflects stylistic elements often associated with early Italian Baroque art, despite Bor's Dutch background and his membership in the Bentvueghels.
Subject & Meaning
The painting centers on Cydippe, portrayed in a white, off-the-shoulder garment and a blue shawl. She holds an apple in her right hand while seated on a blue-backed chair with a red cushion. Her left arm rests on a ledge adorned with flowers and a goat skull, set against a plain wall. While the title references a classical myth, the precise narrative or symbolic significance of these elements within Bor's depiction remains open to interpretation.
Technique & Style
Bor's artistic approach in this piece demonstrates a clear affinity for early Baroque Italian aesthetics. A prominent feature is the use of chiaroscuro, a technique employing strong contrasts between light and dark areas. This dramatic lighting sculpts the figure and objects, creating a sense of three-dimensionality and emotional intensity, which was characteristic of many artists working in the Baroque tradition.
History & Provenance
Paulus Bor, active during the Dutch Golden Age, was a member of the Bentvueghels, a society of Dutch and Flemish artists working in Rome. Although Bor was Dutch, "Cydippe with the Apple of Acontius" exhibits a stylistic departure from typical Dutch genre scenes, aligning more with the dramatic sensibilities of Italian Baroque painting. The artwork is presently housed in the Rijksmuseum's collection.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Paulus Bor (Dutch: ; c. 1601 – 10 August 1669) was a Dutch artist, representative of the "Golden Age", member of the art society "Bentvueghels".
