Vertumnus and Pomona
Copyright
Work in the public domain
Image: Courtauld
Image: Courtauld
Maker
1589-1624
Title
Vertumnus and Pomona
Date of Production
1621-23
Medium
oil on copper
Dimensions
Height: 18.7 cm (copper)
Width: 25.7 cm (copper)
Width: 25.7 cm (copper)
Object Number
P.1978.PG.122
Mode of Acquisition
Count Antoine Seilern, bequest, 1978
Credit
Courtauld Gallery, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust)
Label Text
Here, Vertumnus, the god of gardens, masquerades as an old woman to approach Pomona, the chaste goddess of orchards. Domenico Fetti depicted the moment before Vertumnus throws off his disguise and Pomona falls in love with him. Like that of another small painting in this case, the story is drawn from the Metamorphoses by the ancient Roman poet Ovid, a very popular text in the 17th century.
Provenance
Acquired by the 4th Lord Methuen (1886-1975), Corsham Court; Acquired by Seilern from Dr M and Mrs E Sklarz, London, 1956; Princes Gate Bequest 1978.
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