Pluto and Proserpina, from Three Paired Gods and Goddesses
c. 1594
Medium
Engraving on ivory laid paper
Dimensions
Sheet (trimmed): 32.2 × 21.5 cm (12 11/16 × 8 1/2 in.)
Classification
engraving
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
268255
Art Historical Context
In the late 16th century, Dutch engraver Jan Saenam captured the dramatic myth of Pluto and Proserpina in this exquisite engraving, part of his series *Three Paired Gods and Goddesses* (c. 1594). Drawing from classical Roman mythology, the image depicts Pluto, god of the underworld, seizing the beautiful Proserpina—daughter of Ceres—in a moment of abduction that explains the seasons: her time below ground brings winter, her return above heralds spring. Saenredam's work reflects the era's fascination with ancient tales, revived during the Renaissance, blending Northern European precision with M...
About the Artist
Jan Saenredam · 1565–1607
Jan Pieterszoon Saenredam (c. 1565–1607) emerged from humble beginnings in the Dutch village of Assendelft, where he was orphaned young and raised by his uncle, the local bailiff Pieter de Jongh. Initially destined for basket weaving or farm work, Saenredam's precocious talent for embellishing texts with intricate designs caught attention, leading to an apprenticeship in cartography. By 1589, at a...