TheAgeOfFable #12 Giovanni Caselli

Here we observe a scene unfolding within a stylized landscape framed by ornate borders. The composition is dominated by a central figure, a muscular man with dark hair and beard, who appears to be in motion, grasping the arm of a woman whose face is turned upwards towards him. Her expression conveys a mixture of surprise and perhaps reluctant acceptance. She is draped in flowing white fabric that accentuates her form as she is pulled forward.
To the left, another woman is depicted falling or stumbling, clutching a woven basket overflowing with vibrant red flowers. Her posture suggests distress or shock, and her gaze is directed towards the central action. A third figure, positioned at the lower right of the frame, raises her hands to her face in what seems like an expression of dismay or protective gesture. She too wears white drapery, creating a visual unity among the female figures.
Behind this group, four dark horses are visible, harnessed and standing on a grassy plain that slopes upwards towards rocky mountains. The horses’ presence introduces a sense of power and potential movement, hinting at a journey or pursuit.
The color palette is predominantly warm – greens for the landscape, reds for the flowers, and muted tones for the figures skin and clothing. This contributes to an overall feeling of heightened emotion and drama. The artist has employed a deliberate flatness in perspective, which reinforces the narrative quality of the scene.
Subtexts within this image suggest themes of abduction or forced departure. The differing reactions of the women – the resistance of one, the distress of another, and the apparent helplessness of the third – imply a disruption of order and a loss of agency. The horses could symbolize fate, destiny, or an unstoppable force driving the narrative forward. The flowers in the basket might represent lost innocence, beauty, or a life left behind. Overall, the work conveys a sense of upheaval and transition, hinting at a mythological or allegorical tale where individual lives are subject to larger forces.