ROMAN SCHOOL, 17TH CENTURY | CYPARISSUS TURNING INTO A CYPRUS TREE, WITH HIS SLAIN STAG BEYOND

Anonymous sale, Paris, Beaussant & Lefèvre, 23 March 2012, lot 213 (as attributed to Cavaliere d'Arpino);

Collection Jean-Louis Remilleaux, by whom sold, Paris, Christie's, 29 September 2015, lot 812 (as attributed to Cavaliere d'Arpino);

There acquired.

In Greek mythology, the origin of the cyprus tree, classical symbol of mourning, is explained with the story of Cyparissus, a favorite of Apollo. Cyparissus kept a tame stag as a pet and accidentally kills it while hunting with his javelin. His grief was so overwhelming that he turned into a cyprus tree. Here he stands poised to transform as foliage sprouts from his head, and the slain stag can be seen in right background.