#oliferne

''Ordinarily the fantastic hunts show a hunter in pursuit of his prey. Oliferne's hunt is an exception to this pattern. Here there is no pursuit or spell. The story speaks only of the hunters of the past, who returned to the forests, and who were seen taking part in the entertainments which mark the end of the hunts.

Among the witnesses of this hunting which reappeared sometimes, one quotes, in the XIXth century a forest guard who told that one morning, while traversing the woods of his sorting which bristles the mountain close to the ruins of the castle of Oliferne, near Arinthod, in the department of Jura, he was attracted by the sound of hunting horns. He arrived in a clearing in the forest, and there he found, gathered under a large oak tree, a number of great lords, noble ladies, valets and piqueurs: some were eating on the lawn, others herded horses or fed a large pack. The liveliest joy animated the banquet.

Astonished & not daring to approach such a brilliant company, he stepped back and took a path that took him obliquely away from the group; but delighted with a sight so new to him, he had turned his head in order to enjoy it again...Nothing, everything had disappeared.''

“Taglio le teste e porto pace come Giuditta”

1) Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, Giuditta decapita Oloferne, 1598-1599 circa, Roma, Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica