Oil on canvas. Roman school of the 17th century. The bloody episode of the sacrifice of Iphigenia, also recounted in the Iliad, originates from the wrath of Artemis, goddess of the hunt, who, offended by Agamemnon for his boasting as a hunter, prevents the Greek fleet from setting sail for Troy; the seer Calchas then prophesies that the goddess's anger can only be appeased by sacrificing the youngest daughter of King Agamemnon himself, Iphigenia, and so it happens. At the center of the scene, the girl is depicted prostrate at the foot of the sacrificial altar, while she is being prepared by the priests according to the rituals; in the corner on the left one can glimpse the father Agamemnon (with the crown abandoned at his feet) with the mother Clytemnestra who, in despair, do not dare to look. Above, the goddess Artemis is watching the scene, recognizable by the moon on her head, by the bow she holds in her hand and by a deer, her symbolic animal, at the foot of the canopy: according to a less violent version of the legend, in at the time of the sacrifice Iphigenia is replaced by Artemis with a deer, as the presence of the animal in this representation might indicate. The work presented here is derived from Pietro Testa's painting, published between 1640 and 1642 (now at the Galleria Spada in Rome) and from his engravings: from it the entire composition of the figures is taken, although modified in clothing, colors and various details. Restored and relined, the painting is presented in an early 20th century frame, contemporary with the restoration.
Product Condition:
Product in good condition, with slight signs of wear and tear. We try to present the real state as completely as possible with the photos. If some details are not clear from the photos, the description prevails.
Frame dimensions (cm):
Height: 94
Width: 130
Depth: 7
Artwork dimensions (cm):
Height: 74
Width: 110
ARARPI0262151