Arcadia

Arcadia, originating from ancient Greece, represents an idealized concept of paradise, symbolized by pristine rural landscapes and a life in harmony with nature. This bucolic vision of Arcadia was depicted in art and literature, where it stood out as a refuge from the afflictions of life and the political plots of the Olympian deities. During the Renaissance, the interest in classical mythology and pastoral utopia was revived, leading artists like Jacopo Sannazaro and Lope de Vega to explore Arcadian themes in their works. It is during this time that the concept of the Arcadian landscape would vary or shift towards a more mundane, earthly plane. Arcadia would no longer be a resting place for the gods, but for man. This more urban man seeks in his heart a place to rest in the midst of a life, now in the city and not in the countryside, much faster and seemingly more complicated.

In the context of mural painting, the frescoes of the Villa of the Mysteries in Pompeii and the House of Livia in Rome reflect Arcadian themes with scenes capturing rituals and deities in natural settings. These murals, still on display in their original sites, are key testimonies to the persistence of the Arcadian theme through the ages.

Post-Renaissance artists like Nicolas Poussin and Thomas Gainsborough also embraced the theme of Arcadia. Poussin, in particular, is known for his work "Et in Arcadia Ego", which encapsulates the melancholy and beauty of this lost idyll. In the 19th century, French painter Jean-François Millet continued this tradition with his pastoral representations that emphasized the simplicity and dignity of peasant life.