Hendrik de Clerck: The Music Contest of Apollo and Pan (1620)

 

(Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

A painting by the Flemish artist Hendrik de Clerck (1560-1630). This painting shows a scene from Greek mythology as told by the Roman writer Hyginus. According to the tale the god Pan, the god of shepherds and nature, was a great musician and believed he was greater than the chief musician of the gods, Apollo, the sun-god. Pan challenged Apollo to a musical duel with the mountain Tmolus to be the judge of the contest since no one is so old and wise as the hills. The followers of both gods came with them, to hear, and one of those who came with Pan was a mortal king Midas of Phrygia.

First Pan played; he blew on his reed pipes, and out came a tune so wild and yet so coaxing that the birds hopped from the trees to get near; the squirrels came running from their holes, and the very trees swayed as if they wanted to dance. The fauns laughed aloud for joy as the melody tickled their furry little ears, and Midas thought it was the sweetest music in the world.

Then it was Apollo's turn. When the god touched the strings of his lyre, such music stole upon the air as never god nor mortal had heard before. The wild creatures of the wood crouched still as a stone; the trees kept every leaf from rustling; earth and air were as silent as a dream. When Apollo stopped playing, it was like bidding farewell to one's father and mother.

Tmolus at once awarded the victory to Apollo, and all but one agreed with the judgment. Midas dissented and questioned the justice of the award. Apollo was bemused by this and told Midas, “If your ears are so dull mortal, they shall take the shape that best suits them”. He then touched Midas and his ears transformed into those of an ass.

Painting from 1620.