Dutch Death of Hero & Leander | David II Teniers | 17th Century 16th Century Bathed in the warm glow

Bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun

The guards fired their guns to quell rising panic

the interplay of innocence and sin

Rubens masterfully arranges the figures in a swirling diagonal oval that divides the canvas into contrasting areas of light and shadow

where bare trees and a prehistoric dolmen stand in quiet harmony

Dutch Death of Hero & Leander | David II Teniers | 17th Century 16th Century Bathed in the warm glowThis oil on canvas, hailing from the 17th century, is a significant work from the studio of David II Teniers (1610 1690). It masterfully depicts the classical narrative of Hero and Leander, a tale of love and tragedy that has been a source of inspiration in art for centuries. The scene is set around the dramatic moment of Leander's death, as he is brought to the shore, and his devoted lover, Hero, in the throes of despair, casts herself into the sea.