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

The Testament of Eudamidas

1644-48
Oil on canvas, 111 x 139 cm
Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen

The subject is taken from Lucian's 'Toxaris, or Friendship': the Corinthian Eudamidas lying in a bed with a man sitting next to him and taking down the dictation of the will, and another man standing beside the dying man; at the bottom of the bed, an old woman and a young woman mourning.

In the writings of the ancient scholar Lucian, stoicism presented itself in the story of Eudamidas's exemplary friendship with two other citizens in Corinth who assumed responsibility for his mother and daughter after his death as stipulated in his will.