Siren and Triton
1601 to 1650
Medium
engraving on laid paper
Dimensions
plate: 20.6 x 31.8 cm (8 1/8 x 12 1/2 in.) sheet: 22.4 x 33.4 cm (8 13/16 x 13 1/8 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund
Accession Number
1996.113.12
Art Historical Context
Behold the enchanting *Siren and Triton an exquisite engraving by Theodor van Kessel, faithfully reproducing a design by the Baroque master Sir Peter Paul Rubens. Created between 1601 and1650, this print laid paper measures a plate of 20.6 x 31.8 cm, capturing the dramatic energy of Rubens' mythological world. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's Prints department through the Ailsa Mellon Fund, it exemplifies the Flemish artist's flair for dynamic compositions filled with swirling forms and sensual figures. Rubens, a towering figure of the Baroque era, drew inspiration from classical antiq...