Circle of Jean-Baptiste Marie Pierre (Paris 1702-1789)

Angelica was the daughter of the King of Cathay in Ariosto's epic poem Orlando Furioso, about the conflict between Christians and Saracens in the time of Charlemagne. Angelica was loved by Orlando who was maddened by grief and jealousy when he discovered she was the lover of Medoro, who is seen here carving her name in the bark of a tree.

The present lot relates to a 'Rinaldo and Armida' of the same dimensions, formerly in the Rothschild collection, Pregny (Christie's, New York, 18 June 1982, lot 47, where catalogued as Natoire). The two paintings are executed in a style very close to that of Jean-Baptiste Marie Pierre, but their talented author has yet to be identified. The paintings likely formed part of a series, perhaps of overdoors, depicting lovers from Italian epic poetry.