Apollo and the Muses (Parnassus) by Nicolas Poussin

The painting “Apollo and the Muses” is one of the key works for understanding Poussin’s work. Her composition borrowed from one of the frescoes of Raphael on the same topic. The artist’s enthusiasm for themes of classical mythology and the works of Raphael and Titian is noticeable.

Parnas – mountain range in Greece. On one of the peaks was the Delphic temple and nearby Kastalsky spring. In antiquity, Parnassus was the sacred place of Apollo And Muses, and therefore a traditional place where poetry and music lived. At the foot of Parnassus was the most famous in the ancient world Delphic oracle. Apollo in the picture crowns the poet La Gomer with a laurel wreath, in the image of which Poussin depicted his friend the poet Marino, thus showing how much he appreciates his work.

In the center of the picture is depicted the Nymph of Castalia, which turned into a stream in order to escape the persecution of Apollo. At the creek, the artist placed two cupids; they stretched bowls of Kastalian water, giving poetic inspiration to poets and muses standing around.

Strict verticals of trees in the background firmly fasten the space of the picture. In color terms, the canvas is built, as almost always in Poussin, in contrast to warm and cold colors. The colorful richness of the work speaks of Titian’s influence on the work of the artist of this period.