Armida and the sleeping Rinaldo
In this dramatic Baroque scene, the sorceress Armida stands over the sleeping knight Rinaldo, poised to strike—or at least, that was the plan. Sent to assassinate the enemy soldier, she instead falls hopelessly in love at first sight, a twist perfectly captured by the mischievous cupid tying her heart to his. Nuvolone masterfully uses swirling drapery and soft, glowing light to highlight the tension between duty and desire, turning a moment of intended murder into a romantic standoff. It's a classic tale from Tasso's epic poem 'Jerusalem Delivered,' proving that even in the 17th century, love was the ultimate plot twist.