“Stormy Landscape with Pyramus and Thisbe” is a classical oil painting by Nicolas Poussin, dating back to 1651. The artwork, which falls under the art movement of Classicism, is notable for its considerable dimensions of 192 x 273 cm. It is a landscape that incorporates elements of literary painting and is currently housed at the Städel Museum in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. This work exemplifies Poussin’s skill in blending narrative content with the natural environment, embodying the ideal of harmony and order that is characteristic of Classicism.
The artwork portrays a dramatic and expansive landscape dominated by dark, stormy skies streaked with lightning. The foreboding atmosphere is juxtaposed with the serene beauty of the scenery below. In the foreground, one can observe the tragic figures of Pyramus and Thisbe, derived from Ovid’s “Metamorphoses”. Amidst ancient ruins and lush trees, the story unfolds — Thisbe, fleeing from a lioness, drops her veil, which is later found by Pyramus. Mistaking the bloodied veil for a sign of Thisbe’s demise, Pyramus falls to his own sword. Subsequently, Thisbe discovers the lifeless body of Pyramus and, in her grief, takes her own life with the same sword.
The composition is carefully constructed to lead the viewer’s eye through the different planes of the scene, from the intimate tragedy in the foreground to the small figures and buildings receding into the distance, further amplifying the sense of scale and emotional impact of the painting. The use of light and shadow, along with the natural elements such as trees and water, reflects Poussin’s mastery of landscape painting and his ability to convey complex emotions through the setting itself.
