Cydippe with the Apple of Acontius, Paulus Bor, c. 1645 - c. 1655

Cydippe with the Apple of Acontius, Paulus Bor, c. 1645 - c. 1655

oil on canvas, h 151cm × w 113.5cm Catalogue entry

This scene is taken from the Heroides by the Roman poet Ovid. When Cydippe went to make an offering at the temple of Diana, Acontius, who was secretly in love with her, threw an apple inside with the following words written on it: ‘I swear by the sanctuary of Diana that I will marry Acontius.’ Cydippe read the words aloud, thus turning them into a solemn vow.

Catalogue entry