Artwork

Granida and Daiphilo. Daiphilo Bringing Water to Princess Granida

Granida and Daiphilo. Daiphilo Bringing Water to Princess Granida is an unspecified painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Pieter Symonsz Potter. It dates from 1641 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.

About this work

Overview

Pieter Symonsz Potter’s 1641 oil painting, titled *Granida and Daiphilo. Daiphilo Bringing Water to Princess Granida*, is part of the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst. The work depicts a calm pastoral tableau in which a noblewoman rides a horse while a male attendant leads a goat, surrounded by scattered livestock and a gentle landscape.

Subject & Meaning

The scene draws on the pastoral romance of Granida and Daiphilo, a popular 17th‑century literary theme. The interaction between the rider and the attendant suggests courteous service and a harmonious relationship between humanity and nature, underscored by the tranquil gestures of the figures and the placid setting.

Technique & Style

Potter employs a restrained palette of earthy browns and muted greens, allowing soft light to model the figures and animals. The composition balances foreground detail—goats, dogs, and rope—with a distant rock formation and trees, creating depth through atmospheric perspective and a calm, naturalistic tone.

History & Provenance

Created in 1641, the painting entered the Statens Museum for Kunst’s holdings at an unspecified later date, where it remains on display. Its provenance reflects the typical trajectory of Dutch Golden Age works that migrated to Northern European collections during the 18th and 19th centuries.