O Casamento de Acis e Galateia
c.1627
Imagine a mythological pool party where everyone forgot their clothes! This lively sketch by Nicolas Poussin teems with nude figures lounging in the water and on the grassy banks, rendered in warm reddish-brown washes. It depicts the romantic tale of the sea nymph Galatea and the shepherd Acis, a story from Ovid’s Metamorphoses that ends quite tragically. While Poussin is a giant of the Baroque movement known for his super-strict, logical compositions, this loose drawing reveals his playful, spontaneous side as he worked out the details. It’s a rare, messy glimpse into the creative process of a master who usually preferred perfect order.
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