Italian, Venetian, 'The Story of Cimon and Efigenia', 16th century
About the work
Overview
Although this panel has been cut down on the left-hand side, its original size and shape suggests that it was probably made to decorate a piece of furniture, perhaps for a bedchamber. It is in the style of Palma Vecchio, although it has suffered much damage.
The painting depicts an episode from the story of Cimon and Efigenia, as told in Boccaccio’s Decameron, published in 1353. Despite being son of the King of Cyprus, Cimon was coarse and uneducated, and was sent away by his family to live and work on their farmlands. One day, while walking through meadows, he came across a sleeping lady with her handmaidens. Touched by her beauty, as Cimon fell in love with the sleeping Efigenia his heart opened to all of the virtues he had been lacking before, and he was transformed into a noble and worthy soul.
We, like Cimon, voyeuristically observe Efigenia’s beauty as she sleeps beside her watchful handmaiden in a copse beyond the walls of the distant shoreside city.
Key facts
Details
- Full title
- The Story of Cimon and Efigenia
- Artist
- Italian, Venetian
- Date made
- 16th century
- Medium and support
- oil on wood
- Dimensions
- 67.9 × 120 cm
- Acquisition credit
- Sir Claude Phillips Bequest, 1924
- Inventory number
- NG4037
- Location
- Not on display
- Collection
- Main Collection
Provenance
Acquired by Sir Claude Phillips before June, 1907. Bequeathed by him, 1924.
Additional information
Text extracted from the ‘Provenance’ section of the catalogue entry in Cecil Gould, ‘National Gallery Catalogues: The Sixteenth Century Italian Schools’, London 1987; for further information, see the full catalogue entry.
Bibliography
-
1959Gould, Cecil, National Gallery Catalogues: The Sixteenth Century Venetian School, London 1959
-
1987Gould, Cecil, National Gallery Catalogues: The Sixteenth Century Italian Schools, London 1987
-
2001
C. Baker and T. Henry, The National Gallery: Complete Illustrated Catalogue, London 2001
About this record
If you know more about this painting or have spotted an error, please contact us. Please note that exhibition histories are listed from 2009 onwards. Bibliographies may not be complete; more comprehensive information is available in the National Gallery Library.
Images
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