Granida and Daifilo

Gerard van Honthorst, mostly known for his Caravaggist work, shows in this painting his abilities as a full-fledged Classicist. The composition is built up in complete balance from two idealized figures. The lighting is even and the colours are bright. The scene depicted here comes from a pastoral play called Granida by Pieter Cornelisz Hooft. It is the love story of the Persian princess Granida and the shepherd Daifilo. This work was probably painted for the wedding of Stadholder Prince Frederik Hendrik of Orange and Amalia van Solms.