Clorinda Rescuing Sofronia and Olindo, Mattia Preti (c. 1660)
Mattia Preti’s Clorinda Rescuing Sofronia and Olindo surges with heroism and high drama, drawing its story from Torquato Tasso’s celebrated epic, Jerusalem Delivered. In the poem, Sofronia and Olindo are Christian lovers condemned to death for their faith during the siege of Jerusalem. As they face the flames, the fierce Persian warrior-maiden Clorinda—who fights for the opposing side but is bound by her own code of honor—rides in on her rearing white horse to save them. Preti’s mastery of chiaroscuro throws faces and armor into bold relief against a roiling sky, while the intense gaze of the crowd and the diagonal sweep of Clorinda’s gesture focus all eyes on the unfolding rescue. Painted with fiery color and emotional intensity, this work captures the courage, sacrifice, and unlikely alliances that define both legend and history.
Cotton and polyester canvas on Radiata pine wood frame sourced from renewable forests. Includes back mounting.
