King Midas Judging the Musical Contest between Pan and Apollo

Glauber, a Dutch painter who worked in Rome for a period, is recognized for his ability to produce classical landscape paintings. Vistas of Italian hill cities were embellished with poetic lighting, ancient ruins, and imaginative flora in order to provide an idealized setting for mythological or historical scenes. Pan, identifiable by his goat's legs, pointed ears, horns, and reed pipe, has challenged the lyre-playing god Apollo to a musical contest. Midas, shown standing between the two, chose Pan as winner; the vengeful Apollo gave Midas ass's ears.