Pan Reclining before a Large Vase
c. 1640/1645
Medium
etching with tonal wiping on laid paper
Dimensions
sheet: 11.9 x 21.4 cm (4 11/16 x 8 7/16 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund
Accession Number
1985.6.1
Art Historical Context
In the enchanting etching *Pan Reclining before Large Vase*, created around 1640–1645 by Giovanni Benedettoiglione, the Greek god of the wild, Pan, lounges languly before an oversized vase, evoking the pastoral myths of ancient Greece. Castiglione, a leading Genoese artist of the Baroque era (1609–1664), was for his fluid, dynamic style influenced by Anthony van Dyck and classical antiquity. His works often blend mythological figures with natural elements, capturing a sense of rustic harmony and sensual abandon that resonated in 17th-century Italy. This intimate print, measuring just 11.9 x 2...
About the Artist
Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione · 1609–1664
Versatile and eclectic artist open to foreign influence which was unusual for an Italian artist of his time. Some of his best-known works are somewhat fantastical. He was court painter at Mantua from 1648. Comment on works: Religious; Landscapes; Animals; Mythology.