Pittore francese fine Settecento

French painter, 18th-19th century Leda and the Swan (Literary source: Ovid's Metamorphoses, book VI) Oil on canvas 95 x 126 cm. framed 109 x 142 cm. The fascinating painting we offer, originally intended to adorn the rooms of a private residence, depicts the beautiful Leda, queen of Sparta and wife of King Tyndareus, victim of Zeus's deception. According to the myth, in fact, the King of the Gods, having fallen madly in love, decided to conquer her, but to approach without raising suspicion, he took the form of a magnificent swan, taking advantage of her vulnerability while she was resting on the banks of the Eurotas river. The queen, struck by the beauty of the swan, welcomed him into her arms, eventually being seduced by Zeus, who united with her: from the encounter, desired by both parties, an egg was born, from which the children Helen and Pollux came to light. Within Greek mythology, Leda and the Swan is undoubtedly one of the most fascinating stories, inspiring many artists since the Renaissance, with depictions full of eros, where the fusion between human and divine has manifested itself in sensual and ambiguous forms. In the past, great symbolic value was attributed to this subject, often identified as an allegory of carnal love, and more specifically, the success of this iconography was linked to the translated image of the coupling between man and woman, covered by the allegory of the myth. Finally, concerning the attributive analysis, this is a splendid work that can be connected to an author with a romantic imprint, presumably French, active between the 18th and 19th centuries, who knew how to treat this mythological theme with an image of sensual nudity. In the 18th century, with Neoclassicism, thanks to authors such as Jacques-Louis David, there was a growth in interest in artistic nudity, a celebration of ideal beauty, and the representation of the female body gives paintings like this an intense and sensual atmosphere. Then we move on to the 19th century, in which nude poses, and perhaps combined as in our case with pleasant mythological subjects, reach particularly appreciated results. Particularly in France, the women painted through the realism of their bodies translate their sensual physicality, like the models of Courbet and Ingres, modeling them according to the canons of beauty of classical nudes. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The painting is sold complete with a beautiful gilded frame from the 19th century and is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity and a descriptive iconographic sheet. We take care of and organize the transport of purchased works, both for Italy and abroad, through professional and insured carriers. If you wish to see this or other works in person, we will be happy to welcome you to our new gallery in Riva del Garda, in Viale Giuseppe Canella 18. We are waiting for you! Contact us for any information or to organize a visit, we will be happy to answer you. Also follow us on: https://www.instagram.com/galleriacastelbarco/?hl=it https://www.facebook.com/galleriacastelbarco/