The painting by Jean Ranc titled Vertumnus and Pomona shows an encounter of Vertumnus and Pomona, two characters of Roman mythology. Trying to win Pomona’s affection, Vertumnus disguises himself as an old woman. This painting with its mythological themes also has ties to contemporary themes. The characters are painted in a modern garden setting. The setting reminds me of other fête galantes paintings that were popular at that time. For example, the numerous landscapes painted by the artist Watteau. The characters are also shown in outfits that were common in the 18th century. Pomona is holding an umbrella and is wearing a fancy pink dress while Vertumnus is draped in fabrics that you could presume would be worn by an old woman in the 18th century.
