Nymphs Turning the Apulian Shepherd into an Olive Tree

Private collection

mythological

This composition illustrates an episode from Book XIV of Ovid's Metamorphoses in which a shepherd from Apulia vigorously mocks an elegant group of dancing and singing nymphs. As punishment, the shepherd is transformed into an olive tree that bears fruit as bitter as his scornful words.

Nymphs Turning the Apulian Shepherd into an Olive Tree

About the Artist

Francisco Collantes

1599 – 1656

Collantes was the leading Spanish landscape painter of the 17th century. He was born in Madrid, but was influenced by Ribera and the Neapolitans, and also by the Venetian painters of the 16th century, especially in his landscape settings for Old Testament subjects. There are works in Bonn, Madrid, New York, Paris and Providence R I.

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