Narcissus
Artist
Juan Bautista Maino
(Spanish, 1581 – 1641)
Dateca. 1600-10
MediumOil on canvas
Dimensions45 x 56 3/8 in. (114.3 x 143.2 cm)
ClassificationsPaintings
Credit LineMuseum purchase, 1969
Object numberSN885
According to the Greek myth, Narcissus was a beautiful youth who, after rejecting the nymph Echo, was made to fall in love with his own reflection. Unable to grasp the object of his love, and too captivated to draw himself away, Narcissus wasted away and died. He was changed into a flower that now bears his name. The tragic tone of the story is heightened by the restrained palette and dramatic use of light and shadow influenced by Caravaggio. Van Kuijl, a Dutch painter who lived in Rome from 1629 to 1631, may even have seen the Italian master's own Narcissus (Rome).
On View
On view
last quarter of 1600s or first quarter of 1700s
