Scenes from Tebaldeo's Eclogues, Andrea Previtali, circa 1510

Panel no. 2 of four paintings in the series "scenes from tebaldeo's eclogues: thyrsis asks damon the cause of his sorrow / thyrsis finds the body of damon". The subject of these four small panels was soon recognised by ernst gombrich as inspired by the second eclogue (pastoral poem) of the ferrarese poet antonio tebaldeo. Editions of this poem were published in venice around 1500. The tragic story must be looked at in reading order. The first scene is the one at the top of the left panel, which portrays the melancholic and solitary damon, suffering for his unrequited love for amaryllis. In the second scene (top of the right panel) his friend thyrsis tries to console him. Date: circa 1510. Dimensions: 45.2 × 19.9 cm (17.7 × 7.8 in). Medium: oil on panel. Collection: National Gallery.