Hendrick Goltzius - Vertumnus and Pomona [1613]

Hendrick Goltzius - Vertumnus and Pomona [1613], a photo by Gandalf's Gallery on Flickr.

Vertumnus and Pomona are divine characters in ancient Roman religion and mythology. Vertumnus was the god of seasons, plants including fruit trees and gardens. He was capable of changing his form at his will. Once, Vertumnus played a trick on Pomona, the goddess of fruitful abundance and orchards, by transforming himself into an old woman and gaining entry to her orchard. The old woman (Vertumnus) narrated to Pomona the tale of Iphis and Anaxarete, and warned her of the consequences of rejecting a sincere suitor, and seduced her. Eventually, after being seduced by Vertumnus, Pomona who had earlier rejected the love of the woodland gods Silvanus and Picus, married Vertumnus. 

[Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam - Oil on canvas, 90 x 149.5 cm]