Triumph of Neptune and Amphitrite with Scenes of Ravishment
manner of Frans Francken II (Antwerp 1581 - Antwerp 1642)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
1600 - 1699
Materials
Oil on copper
Measurements
495 x 648 mm (19 ½ x 25 ½ in)
Order this imageCollection
Arlington Court, Devon
NT 988009
Caption
Neptune and his wife, Amphitrite, a Nereid sea-nymph, sit in their chariot while sea-horses pull them along amongst a crowd of Tritons and Nereids, some of whom are engaged in love-making. Their son, Triton, blows a conch shell horn. At the centre of the scene, a reclining nymph is about to be ravished by a merman whilst an older female nymph tries to intervene. A group of Bacchic-like figures stand proud on the shore of an inlet on the left. This is a small cabinet-picture painted on copper in the manner of the Flemish artist from Antwerp.
Summary
Oil painting on copper, Triumph of Neptune and Amphitrite with Scenes of Ravishment, manner of Frans Francken II (Antwerp 1581 - Antwerp 1642). One of a pair of mythological scenes on the subject of Neptune. In the right background, a grey-bearded Neptune, partially draped in a rose-coloured robe, sits in his chariot. Beside him, draped in blue, is his wife, the Nereid, Amphitrite. The chariot is being pulled towards the left by grey sea-horses. A crowd of Tritons and Nereids of varying ages occupy the middleground, some of whom are engaged in love-making. At the centre of the scene, a reclining nymph draped in blue is being ravished by a merman with a red cloak whilst an older female nymph admonishes him. A group of Bacchic figures stand on the shore of an inlet on the left. A merman who blows a conch shell horn in the left foreground can be identified as Triton, the son of Neptune and Amphitrite.
Provenance
Bequeathed to the National Trust with Arlington Court by Miss Rosalie Chichester (1865 – 1949)
Credit line
Arlington Court, The Chichester Collection (National Trust)
Makers and roles
manner of Frans Francken II (Antwerp 1581 - Antwerp 1642) , artist