Pan And Syrinx Analysis

Throughout the history of art Greek mythology has intrigued artisans and their audiences from all around the world. Jean-François de Troy’s artwork titled Pan and Syrinx is a perfect portrayal of the wonders of Greek mythology. In his painting Troy was able to make the mystical story of Pan and Syrinx come to life. This paper will go into depth and examine the art piece done by Troy as well as compare his work to one that is of similar style and content.
Jean-François de Troy was born in Paris in 1679, his father François de Troy was a portrait painter and until early adolescence was his teacher. As Troy grew older his work fell into Neoclassical and genre style of art. Troy has accomplished a lot in his time. Most notably he is known for, “being the inventor of the tableaux de
Troy creates actual lines with with the trees embedded in the canvas as well as creating a line of perspective in the background with the path leading to the mountain. Troy also uses an implied line with the way Syrinx and the God of the river by having their arms be outstretched pointing up at Pan. Looking at this piece their does not appear to be any negative space within the painting, Troy shows a lot of positive space with the way he places the figures and the landscape. Troy’s work of art compares to Cranach the Elder’s “Judgment of Paris”. In his piece, Cranach the Elder has actual lines that are similar to Troy’s piece by the strong vertical lines shaping the tree in the middle of the canvas and has a clearly defined line leading to the top of the mountains in the background. Also like Troy’s artwork Cranach the Elder creates very minimal negative space and a lot of positive space with the figures, mountains and natural scenery in the background. In both Troy’s and Cranach the Elder’s pieces of art organic shapes are only present. The tops of the trees in both paintings have a very asymmetrical