Amarillis Crowning Mirtillo

The painting represents a scene from the pastoral play Il Pastor Fido, the Faithful Shepherd, by the Italian poet Giovan Battista Guarini (1538-1612). The shepherd Mirtillo loved the nymph Amarillis. In order to gain her presence he disguised himself as a woman. He joined in a kissing game between Amarillis and her maidens, and being judged the winner, was awarded the crown by Amarillis. Mirtillo however took the crown from his own head and placed it on hers, to show that she was equally deserving.

In 1712 George Frideric Handel composed Il Pastor Fido, an opera in three acts the libretto of which is based on the play by Guarini. Listen to an excerpt from Handel's Il Pastor Fido (HWV 8) in MIDI version.

The painting is signed and dated at lower right.