The artwork “Rinaldo and Armida” by Nicolas Poussin, dating from around 1625 to 1626, is an oil painting on canvas that embodies the principles of Classicism. This literary painting is housed in the Pushkin Museum located in Moscow, Russia. It draws its subject from a literary narrative and exemplifies the classical emphasis on order, clarity, and harmony.
In the artwork, the composition is balanced with figures distributed across the scene, set in a pastoral landscape. At the center, a knight, identified as Rinaldo, is depicted reclining in the arms of Armida, a sorceress. The narrative tension stems from the enchanted slumber into which Rinaldo has been lured by Armida’s charms. Surrounding them are several figures: cherubs or putti who play around the pair, and another muscular, partially nude male figure that reclines in the foreground with his back turned to the viewer, perhaps symbolizing the forces of love and war.
The setting is classical, featuring architectural ruins which evoke the grandeur of the past. The background unfolds into a dusky sky, with light breaking through, possibly symbolizing the conflict between darkness and enlightenment—themes often explored in classical literature and painting. The use of rich, yet subdued, colors and the careful attention to anatomical precision and drapery reflect Poussin’s classical approach to painting. Overall, the artwork is emblematic of Poussin’s style, which favored narrative clarity, allegorical content, and the dignified beauty of the figures in a harmoniously structured composition.
