Narcissus

Narcissus is a painting of many versions of the myth of Narcissus, where this one was elaborated by the famous Italian painter Caravaggio where at the age of 29 years he made his revolution in the baroque, showing us the same work with one of his most attractive models that this artist has elaborated. Besides marking the end of the XVI century and giving a new face to the new XVII century.

"Narcissus" by Caravaggio

Made in: Roma

Year: 1597-1599

Medium: Oil on Canvas

In order to delve a little into the history of painting we should place ourselves in the times of ancient Greece where we could find the young Narcissus, a young man who has always been described as one of the most attractive young men of those times. In some stories we are told that his father was the fluvial god Cefiso but others indicate that it was Selene and Endimión. It was also said that because of his beauty he attracted women and men, which he flatly rejected.

During these times Narcissus lacked a partner. But he had the possibility of contracting love with a nymph, whose name was Echo, who in her past had displeased the goddess Hera to repeat the last words of what was said to her. Therefore, it was difficult for her to express and demonstrate the affection she had for Narcissus. But one day Narcissus decided to take a walk in the forest, which Echo saw the opportunity and decided to pursue him. But when Narcissus felt Echo's presence he said "Who's there?" to which Echo replied "Here, here". And Narcissus noticed her image but not completely, so when he did not contemplate her well because of the trees he called her saying "Come!". Echo after answering, came out of the trees with open arms. Narcissus cruelly refused to accept her love, so Echo, desolate, hid in a cave and there she wasted away until only her voice remained.

Because of this cruel act, Nemesis, seeing the conceit of Narcissus, made her fall in love with his reflection in a pond that was nearby, which she fixed so much that she fell in love with it, making herself fall and never separate from his image. That is why a flower was born where his body was, baptizing it as the flower that we all know.

Leaving aside the mythological, Caravaggio unlike the various versions of the paintings that represent this myth, Caravaggio wanted to give his touch with his classic dark and sinister background in addition to seeing his tenebrist baroque style, in addition to its background shadows.

Adding two characteristics would be that this artist gave a touch more highlighting to add clothes of the time (seventeenth century) and the other would be that he divided the painting into two parts, in the first where you can see Narcissus clearly clean and warm marking a difference in its dark background, unlike the other side, where is the reflection of the same but more attenuated making the cut to the painting.

Credits to the images:

1.- Wikipedia (wikipedia.com)

2.- Art history (historiaarte.com)

- tobi ★