Angelika, guarded by a dragon (Angelica and Ruggiero) by Arnold Böcklin

Angelika, guarded by a dragon (Angelica and Ruggiero) 1872

gouache

night

acrylic

abstract painting

war

possibly oil pastel

oil painting

fluid art

acrylic on canvas

underpainting

mythology

painting painterly

watercolor

angel

Arnold Böcklin's "Angelica, guarded by a dragon (Angelica and Ruggiero)" (1872) depicts a scene from the epic poem "Orlando Furioso" by Ludovico Ariosto. The painting shows Angelica, a beautiful princess, bound to a dragon, while a knight on horseback (Ruggiero) approaches. Böcklin’s highly detailed and dramatic style evokes the fantastical world of the epic poem, with its vivid colors and mythical creatures. The painting is a masterpiece of Symbolism, reflecting Böcklin's fascination with the subconscious and the power of nature. This painting is housed in the Alte Nationalgalerie, Berlin, Germany.