The Temptation and Victory of Rinaldo

Description

Painting depicting a scene from an epic poem by Torquato Tasso about the First Crusade (eleventh century). Woodland scene depicts a male soldier in full armor, shield on his left arm and a helmet with a golden eagle on top. Soldier is surrounded by six women who have their hands linked and are dancing around him. Three other women lean against the trunks of the surrounding trees. Oil on canvas. One of four scenes. This scene depicts Canto XVIII; Stanza XXX: "The Temptation and Victory of Rinaldo." The Crusaders have stormed Jerusalem, capturing the entire city except for a strong tower where the Moslems are entrenched. The Christians can obtain no timber to restore their demolished engines of war for all the forests are enchanted and guarded by demons. Rinaldo volunteers to attack the hellish host. Suddenly the demons vanish and the forest becomes calm. Then from the tree-trunks issue ravishing maidens who encircle Rinaldo with an alluring dance. This moment of temptation is perhaps the crisis of the epic. Rinaldo does not falter and the spell of the enchanted forest is broken.