Rescue of Young King Pyrrhus
Nicolas Poussin·1634
Historical Context
Rescue of Young King Pyrrhus from 1634 at the Louvre depicts the legendary escape of the infant king. Poussin found in such narratives of endangered royal children vehicles for exploring themes of destiny and divine protection. Working in Rome from 1624 onwards, Poussin served a cultivated international clientele of French and Italian patrons who prized his learned, disciplined approach to classical antiquity and religious narrative. His correspondence reveals a painter who regarded painting ...
Technical Analysis
The dramatic composition captures the rescue with characteristic clarity. Poussin's handling of the figures and landscape setting creates a scene of narrative urgency within classical order.
