The Garden Of Armida | John Collier | c. 1889 Henryk Siemiradzki we see Gabrielle d’Estrées—mistress of

we see Gabrielle d’Estrées—mistress of King Henry IV of France—seated nude in a bath beside her equally bare sister

identified as the French historical figure Alix of Champagne

who was seduced by Zeus in the form of a swan

but in a strikingly vulnerable and introspective pose

yet his treatment is darker

The Garden Of Armida | John Collier | c. 1889 Henryk Siemiradzki we see Gabrielle d’Estrées—mistress ofAbout the artwork: The Garden of Armida by John Collier, painted around 1889, is a refined example of late nineteenth century British academic painting inspired by literary sources. The work is based on Jerusalem Delivered by Torquato Tasso, which tells the story of Armida, a sorceress who seduces the Christian knight Rinaldo during the Crusades. Collier presents Armida in a lush, enclosed garden, emphasizing sensuality, control, and psychological