Atelier de Gecroonde Son ou de Vergulde Roemer - Méléagre et Atalante - vers 1640-1660 - Cuir gaufré et peint, 95 x 116 cm - Inv. 006 117
Meleager and Atalanta
Atelier of Gecroonde Son or Vergulde Roemer
Meleager and Atalanta, legendary characters from Ovid's Metamorphoses (1st century B.C.), form the main scene of these two decorative panels. The young hunter offers his beloved - accompanied by a female companion - the head of the monstrous boar Calydon. The corpse of the boar lies at his feet. Two dogs accompany the princess.
The heroes are inserted in rich vegetal interlacing (flowers, leaves and fruits) and are crowned by a love and a bird. The hunting activity is here confused with a love scene. The embossed and painted leather is a technique in which Spanish and Dutch craftsmen excelled in the 17th century.
