Art | Pictures of the Month | July 2008
Picture of the Month
July 2008
Tancred and Erminia [c.1634]
by Nicolas Poussin
Supported by a servant, a warrior lies dying on the battlefield, his discarded armour revealing the seriousness of his wounds. Beside him kneels a distressed heroine, who is pictured in the act of cutting off her hair to bind the warrior’s wounds. The intensity of emotion in the woman’s face tells of the unrequited love she feels for this poor figure, who has almost been defeated by the giant now lying dead in the background.
Nicolas Poussin (1594 – 1665) illustrates the dramatic and touching tale of Tancred and Erminia from Tasso’s Renaissance poem Gerusalemme Liberata (Jerusalem Delivered, 1581). This epic scene, which was painted around 1634 and was acquired by the Barber Institute for its opening in 1939, is a great example of Baroque narrative painting. The Christian warrior is, in fact, Tancred, denoted by the Greek monogram of Christ on his shield. Erminia, a Saracen princess who is in love with Tancred, is accompanied by Vafrino, Tancred’s squire. Erminia tends to her badly wounded lover who has slain the giant Argantes. Winged putti frame the scene indicating that Tancred will survive and the couple will unite.
This tale of devoted love not only illustrates the poem upon which it was based, but also offers an implicit vision of Christian lamentation. Tancred recalls the dead Christ as he lies wounded in the foreground. Poussin also uses a pose borrowed from Michaelangelo’s Creation of Adam, as Tancred is supported by Vafrino with his left arm elevated. Poussin’s complex composition and intertwining of figures adds to the sense of immediacy, with an energetic unravelling of the narrative in the foreground.
Poussin is today viewed as the greatest French painter of the Baroque period and the founder of French Classicism. Born in Normandy, he spent the majority of his career painting in Rome, moving there in 1624, at a time when the arts flourished and were heavily patronized by the papacy. There was a tradition for artists to study and admire the great works of Italian masters such as Raphael, as well Antique and Classical art, by which Poussin was heavily influenced. He strove to emulate Classical order and harmony, using sculpted figures, carefully organized space and rich colouring, all evident in this masterpiece.
A 15-minute gallery talk focusing on this picture and exhibition will be held in the Galleries on Thursday 24 July at 1.30pm.
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