The fresco of the Villa Valmarana in Vicenza. The plot is borrowed from the epic poem of the Italian poet Tasso “Liberated Jerusalem”. This is an idealized account of the first Crusade, which ended with the capture of Iecarus in 1099 and the establishment of the Christian kingdom.
Armida, a beautiful witch-maiden, was sent by Satan, whose support the Saracens had secured, in order to crush the Crusaders by the power of their spells. After Rinaldo saves his comrades, whom Armida turned into monsters, – the sorceress wants to take revenge on him. But in the end, captivated by the beauty of Rinaldo, Armida loves him and takes him to the island. To return it, two soldiers are sent to the island.
The soldiers find Rinaldo in the magic garden of Armida and bring a shield to his eyes so that he sees in him, as in a mirror, that he neglects his duties. Rinaldo leaves the witch and returns to battle. The tree, shown in the center, divides the composition into two parts. On the right sits Armida, begging the beloved to stay. To the left stands Rinaldo, with two soldiers. In the background the company is waiting for the ship.