CIRCA 1740

This subject, long thought to be Christ encountering his sleeping disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane, is actually after Ruben's Cimon and Iphigenia (1617-18), depicting Boccaccio's tale. Cimon was of noble birth, but lived coarsely until he happened upon the beautiful Iphigenia and her retinue sleeping beneath a tree. By the power of love he cleaned himself up and became a polished and learned courtier.