Cimon and Iphigenia

This depiction is based on a story from the Decameron written by the Florentine poet, author and humanist Giovanni Boccaccio (1313-1375). Cimon, a nobleman’s son, is attractive but has no manners. His love for Iphigenia, whom he sees sleeping during his travels, has a good influence on him. He turns into an elegant and courtly gentleman and marries her. The scene lends itself perfectly to an Italianate landscape replete with hills and ruins. Cornelis van Poelenburch is known to have painted several versions of this subject.