Clorinda Rescuing Sofronia and Olindo

In a plumed helmet, the Persian warrior-maiden Clorinda arrives on her white horse to save the lovers Sofronia and Olindo, who are about to be burned at the stake. The subject comes from one of the most popular books of its time, Torquato Tasso’s epic about the First Crusade: when Aladine, the king of Jerusalem, threatened to execute the whole Christian community for the theft of a sacred image, Sofronia took the responsibility on herself, her beloved Olindo claimed the theft to save her, and Clorinda — impressed by their courage — offered to fight for the king in the coming battle with the Crusaders. Mattia Preti set the crowd close to the picture plane against a turbulent black, yellow, and orange sky, using strong chiaroscuro to contrast the startled faces with the determination of Clorinda’s shadowed profile while Sofronia and Olindo, brightly lit, wait at the stake. The painting is held in the J. Paul Getty Museum.