Nimf Corsica mishandeld door een satyr

About this artwork

collector's mark: Lugt 240

Art Historical Context

Bartholomeus Breenbergh’s 1640 etching “Nimf Corsica mishandeld door een satyr” presents a compact mythological scene rendered in the artist’s characteristically refined Italianate style. Active during the Dutch Golden Age, Breenbergh spent formative years in Rome, where he absorbed the luminous qualities of the southern landscape and classical narratives that would define much of his printmaking. The small plate—only 96 by 66 millimeters—demonstrates how etching allowed artists to convey dramatic tension with economical yet expressive lines. The subject draws on ancient myths of nymphs pursued by satyrs, a theme popular in Baroque art for its blend of sensuality and moral caution. Breenbergh’s delicate handling of light and foliage creates a vivid, almost painterly atmosphere within the modest format, inviting close inspection. Such prints circulated widely among collectors, disseminating classical stories across northern Europe. The presence of the Lugt 240 collector’s mark further underscores the work’s enduring appeal, tracing its journey through distinguished cabinets and highlighting the historical value placed on fine 17th-century etchings.

About the Artist

Bartholomeus Breenbergh · 1598–1657

Probably was apprenticed in Amsterdam. He was one of the early Dutch italianates, that is, northern artists who travelled to Italy in the 1620s and were inspired by southern landscapes. On his return, he settled in Amsterdam and his landscapes were developed as more severe and monumental, often with historical subjects; strongly influenced by the Pre-Rembrandtists. Comment on works: Landscapes; Ru...