Angelica and Medoro

mythological

The episode is taken from the Orlando Furioso by Ludovico Ariosto, and it is one not commonly translated to painting form, making this version by Orazio Fidani is one of the most interesting examples. In Canto XIX Ariosto tells of the handsome Saracen soldier, Medoro. Injured in the battle in which King Dardinello and his friend Cloridano were killed, he is sheltered with a family of shepherds and nursed by the beautiful Angelica, with whom he falls in love.

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About the Artist

Orazio Fidani

1610 – 1656

Italian painter. He was a pupil of Giovanni Bilivert, and according to art historian Houbraken worked in the workshop of his master for twelve years and has worked with Francesco Furini. The majority of his work consists of large paintings on mythological and religious subjects, but he also produced a series of paintings to decorate the ceiling of the church of the Certosa di Firenze, which are signed and dated 1653 and 1655.

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