Pan And Syrinx Francois Boucher (1703-1770)

The painting Pan and Syrinx by Nicolas Lancret depicts a scene from Ovids Metamorphoses. In the foreground, a youthful, nude woman, Syrinx, reclines languidly, her body curved and her gaze directed upwards with a look of mild distress or apprehension. She is adorned with a pearl necklace and draped in rich red and white fabrics. To her left reclines an old, bearded man, likely a river god or a satyr, his hand gently placed on her arm, his expression seemingly one of paternal concern or wisdom. Beside him, a cherubic figure with blonde hair and a blue ribbon in its hair playfully touches Syrinxs cheek or chin with a finger.
In the background, partially obscured by tall reeds and foliage, emerges the figure of Pan, the mythological satyr god. He is depicted from the chest up, his muscular torso and hairy arms visible as he cautiously reaches forward, his face contorted with desire and exertion. His pointed ears and small horns are visible, identifying him as the pan-like deity. The setting appears to be a waterside locale, with hints of water and lush vegetation.
The subtext of the painting is the dramatic moment of Pans pursuit of the nymph Syrinx. Syrinx, fleeing Pans unwanted affections, appeals to the river god Ladon (or a similar deity, represented by the old man), who transforms her into reeds to escape Pans embrace. Pan, in his frustrated desire, then takes these reeds and fashions them into the panpipes, which become his signature musical instrument. The painting captures the tension between Syrinxs vulnerability and the approaching pursuit, with the juxtaposition of the gentle, almost seductive interaction with the old man and cherub, and the hidden, more aggressive presence of Pan. The scene evokes themes of pursuit, transformation, desire, and the origin of music in Greek mythology.