Tancred and Erminia Nicolas Poussin (1594-1665)
Nicolas Poussin – Tancred and Erminia
Edit attribution
Download full size: 3782×2523 px (1,6 Mb)
Painter: Nicolas Poussin
Location: Hermitage, St. Petersburg (Эрмитаж).
Album navigation:
Poussin was indeed drawn to the works of the famous poet Torquato Tasso. He was fascinated by the maximum intricacy of the plot and the marvelous adventures. A number of the artist’s canvases are precisely painted under the strong impression after reading these poems. "Tancred and Herminia" - reveals the lyricism of the artist. At the same time, the rationalism goes far into the background. It is replaced by dramaticism, psychologism of great depth and intense experience. Herminia was the fearless leader of the Amazons.
ArtClub
Best Contemporary Atists
Description of the painting "Tancred and Herminia" by Nicola Poussin
Poussin was indeed drawn to the works of the famous poet Torquato Tasso. He was fascinated by the maximum intricacy of the plot and the marvelous adventures. A number of the artist’s canvases are precisely painted under the strong impression after reading these poems.
"Tancred and Herminia" - reveals the lyricism of the artist. At the same time, the rationalism goes far into the background. It is replaced by dramaticism, psychologism of great depth and intense experience.
Herminia was the fearless leader of the Amazons. She was in love with a brave knight named Tancred. One day she found him wounded. All this is because Tancred had to fight Argant (a giant). Herminia wants by all means to dress the knight’s wounds, but she has nothing suitable at hand. Then she cuts off her lovely hair. Humanity and love merge in her impulse. The heroine’s determination is not hindered by another faith. The artist ignores the religious aspect that permeates the story in Tasso.
The viewer feels an incredible serenity. It is as if all the characters are frozen. Also silent is the landscape, surprising in its desolation.
Into this frozen world bursts an Amazon gust. Her huge soul miraculously illuminates everything with a special miraculous light. Immobility is strained. The patches of color gain strength and depth.
We see them clash in distinct contrasts. The sunset orange hue is unsettling and creates a sense of impending threat. The excitement of the heroine is conveyed by absolutely all the details.
The characters are portrayed according to the standards of classicism. Misery never disfigures. The poses are graceful and majestic. One gets the full impression that the characters in front of us are the time of antiquity.
Poussin was able to depict a scene full of tragedy through simple and austere artistic forms. This laconism is striking in its grandeur.
The artist was inspired by the act of Erminia, its incredible beauty and harmonious plot.
You cannot comment Why?
The central figure’s posture conveys a sense of conflicted action; the raised dagger implies threat, yet his gaze appears directed downwards, perhaps reflecting hesitation or internal struggle. The two men on the ground exhibit contrasting expressions: one displays an apparent vulnerability, while the kneeling mans face is obscured, leaving his emotional state ambiguous.
Behind this immediate drama, a pair of horses stands poised for flight. One, a dark chestnut, is tethered to a tree; the other, a brilliant white, seems ready to bolt into the distance. This juxtaposition creates a visual tension between restraint and potential escape. The landscape receding into the background features indistinct architectural elements and foliage, suggesting a vastness that dwarfs the human drama taking place in the foreground.
Subtleties within the painting hint at deeper narratives. The contrast between the dark robes of the central figure and the vibrant red of the fallen man’s cloak could symbolize opposing forces or ideologies. The presence of the horses introduces themes of freedom, captivity, and perhaps even divine intervention. The overall atmosphere is one of pathos and uncertainty; a moment frozen in time where the consequences of action are palpable yet unresolved. The artist seems to be exploring not just an event but also the complex emotions surrounding it – duty, compassion, regret, and the precariousness of human existence.