Arnold Böcklin

Pan chasing a Nymph (verso: A Nymph at the Fountain)

1855

Pastel, charcoal and gouache on paper.

63 x 54 cm

Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid

Inv. no.

470.a/b

(

1977.59.a/b

)

Room 33

Although the first small Alpine landscapes by the Swiss painter Arnold Böcklin display the influence of the German artist Caspar David Friedrich, the works executed after his first stay in Italy in 1850 show a shift towards a Romanticism tinged with classical influences and an increasing allegorical component that later evolved towards Symbolism. In these evocative landscapes imbued with symbols, inhabited by spirits of the forest or figures borrowed from classical mythology, the painter aimed to represent the internal forces of nature, his fears and his dreams. Furthermore, although Böcklin was generally more interested in literary aspects and showed limited concern for technical questions, in Italy his palette became lighter and his execution looser, while his knowledge of Pompeian painting encouraged him to experiment with new techniques.

A Nymph at the Fountain , painted in Rome in 1855, is a pastel study for the oil painting Ideal Landscape with a Nymph at a Fountain . It shows a leafy landscape which, like many of his paintings, blends real and imaginary elements. Amid a forest that recalls to an extent the realism of Corot, a reclining nymph dips her feet in a fountain. Hans Holenweg regards the mysterious inclusion of a barking dog on the right-hand side as a humorous note that adds an enigmatic touch to the composition.

The verso of the paper displays a sketched scene of Pan Chasing a Nymph , in which Böcklin captures the moment when the sudden appearance of the god surprises the nymph, who attempts to flee from her raptor.

Paloma Alarcó

19th Century s. XIX - Pintura europea. Simbolismo Work on paper Pastel, charcoal and gouache paper

Listen

Print page

Más obras de arte de la Colección

Arnold Böcklin

A Nymph at the Fountain (verso: Pan chasing a Nymph)

Private and/or didactic use

Pan chasing a Nymph (verso: A Nymph at the Fountain)

Arnold Böcklin

Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid

The exploitation rights of the images correspond to the Fundación Coleccion Thyssen-Bornemisza, F.S.P. The Fundación authorizes the downloading of high-resolution images from its website for private use, use for educational and research purposes, and other non-commercial uses.

Use for educational and research purposes is understood as the non-commercial or advertising use of images in presentations, conferences, school or university work, in classes at regulated education institutions, as well as in academic publications, with a circulation of less than 1,000 copies, provided that it is non-profit.

Non-commercial use is understood as the use of the images in a context where no profit, monetary or commercial, is generated, directly or indirectly.

Any use other than those indicated above will require the prior written authorization of the Fundación Any request for educational and research use or for non-commercial use (including academic publications), should be directed by email to the Museum Photo Library through the email address archivo.fotografico@museothyssen.org. This department manages the worldwide distribution of the images of the works of the Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza and the management of their reproduction rights for those uses.

The user agrees to use the image of the website solely and exclusively for the purposes described above and in accordance with the following terms of use:

Terms of use

If the image is used for reproduction, the work must be reproduced in its entirety. The image may not be manipulated, deformed, modified, or altered in any way. In particular, no superposition (of images or texts) on the reproduction is allowed.
The reproduction of a detail or part of the work may only be made with the prior written authorization of the Fundación. In this case, the credit line must include the following mention: “detail”.
Any total or partial reproduction of the images authorized by the Fundación must be accompanied by the following mention: Author's name. Title, Date © Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid.
The user will send to the Museum Photo Library of the Fundación one (1) free copy of the edition, publication or reproduction to the following address: Archivo Fotográfico, Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza, Paseo del Prado, 8 28014 Madrid, Spain.

I have read and accept the Terms of Use

Download image

Commercial use

Pan chasing a Nymph (verso: A Nymph at the Fountain)

Arnold Böcklin

Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid

The Photographic Archive of the Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza offers sale and rental service of photographic material of all the works on its Permanent Collection.

To request images or permits for commercial use in academic or research publications, that is, catalogues of other institutions, monographs and other specialized publications, you should contact the Museum's Commercial Archive by email at the e-mail @email.

To request images or permits for other commercial or advertising uses (general publications, merchandising, exhibitions, audio-visual works, web pages, etc.), you should contact the Museum's Commercial Archive by email at the e-mail @email.

The Photo Library and the Museum's Commercial Archive manage the worldwide distribution of images of the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza works, as well as their reproduction rights. The applicable rates are calculated based on the nature and proposed use of the images, as well as the availability of the requested image.

Requests for scans or new photographs will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Once approved, an additional fee will apply. Re-photographing a work will require a minimum of six weeks to complete.

However, photographed works are protected by copyright. Therefore, regardless of the terms of use of the photographs set out below by the Foundation, it will be necessary to obtain a license from the author or copyright holder known to the Fundacion in order to reproduce or exploit the work.

I have read and accept the Terms of Use

Download image