Midas Washing at the Source of the Pactolus
The Met
Artist: Nicolas Poussin(French, Les Andelys 1594–1665 Rome)
Date: ca. 1627
Department: European Paintings
Classification: Paintings
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 38 3/8 x 28 5/8 in. (97.5 x 72.7 cm)
Credit Line: Purchase, 1871
Visual Descriptions
AI GeneratedVisual Summary
Brief Description
Three partially draped figures sleep by a stream in a dark, rocky landscape
Detailed Description
The painting depicts a dark, natural scene with three figures resting by a stream. In the upper left, a large, dark tree trunk rises, with a folded red cloth draped over a branch or rock nearby. To the left, a muscular man with dark hair is partially submerged in the dark water of a stream, his face turned away and obscured by his arm. His skin is a warm, reddish-brown. Dominating the center, a lighter-skinned man lies diagonally, facing away from the viewer. He wears a wreath of green leaves on his head and a light green drapery around his lower body. His right arm is bent, resting on a dark, rocky surface, and his left leg is extended towards the lower left. His back and buttocks are visible. Below and to the right of this central figure, an infant lies on its stomach, also facing away. It has light skin and wears a white cloth around its waist, with a small wreath of green leaves on its head. A fourth, partially visible figure, possibly another infant, is seen behind the first infant on the far right, also adorned with a leafy wreath. The background consists of dark, indistinct rock formations and foliage, with hints of lighter green leaves scattered throughout. The overall lighting is dim, with light selectively illuminating the figures' skin.
Generated by gemini-2.5-flash
