Ondine gives her husband the kiss that will kill him, Irma Martin, circa 1842

Ondine gives her husband the kiss that will make him die, painting inspired by the german tale ondine by friedrich de la motte-fouqué the painting was exhibited for the first time by the artist in paris at the salon of 1842 with the following description: "undine was a daughter of the waters who could only acquire a soul if she was loved and married by a mortal. It was to the knight huldbrand that she owed this celestial gift; as he did not always remain faithful to her, undine, following her destiny, returned under the waters. / according to the law of the undines, she had to kill her husband if he contracted a new marriage. Huldbrand married bertha, and at the moment he was going to go to her from her, ondine appears veiled to the knight “o my beloved,” she said, “your last hour has come! let me see you again, my dear ondine, he cried, if you have the choice of my torture, make me die with a kiss. " she lifted her veil, and placed a celestial kiss on the forehead of her husband, and their souls did not take long to reunite, never to separate. " / (german tale translated by m. De lamotte-fouqué)" irma martin represents ondine standing, lifting her white veil to place a kiss on the forehead of huldbrand, whose pale complexion announces imminent death. The renaissance-inspired costumes and furniture place the work in the field of late troubadour painting. The setting in the background, like a theater stage backdrop, consists of a lake and mountains plunged into a blue night, lit by the moon. Object Type: painting. Genre: history painting. Date: circa 1842. Place of creation: France. Dimensions: height: 71 cm (27.9 in) ; width: 58 cm (22.8 in). Medium: oil on canvas. Irma Martin - Ondine donne à son mari le baiser qui doit le faire mourir