POUSSIN, Nicolas
(b. 1594, Les Andelys, d. 1665, Roma)

The Inspiration of the Lyric Poet

c. 1627
Oil on canvas, 94 x 70 cm
Niedersächsisches Landesmuseum, Hannover

In The Inspiration of the Lyric Poet, completed around 1627, the poet experiences the dawning light of inspiration with the help of a draught from the sacred spring of Castalia, offered to him by Apollo, the divine patron of the arts, accompanied by Euterpe, the Muse of lyric poetry. Putti fly down from above to crown the poet, thus honoured, with flowers, branches and wreaths of laurel.