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Arion and a Nereid

Albrecht Altdorfer

1522

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance Allegory

Dominant colour

Arion and a Nereid is a 1522 ink by Albrecht Altdorfer, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Albrecht Altdorfer
When & what style?: 1522 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This engraving depicts a woman, likely a Nereid, grasping a trident while standing behind a man, possibly Arion, who is seated on a fish. The scene is set against a backdrop of water, with a castle visible in the distance. The woman's long hair flows behind her, and the man wears a wreath on his head. The fish appears to be swimming, with its mouth open and its tail curled upwards. The engraving features intricate details, including the texture of the woman's hair and the scales on the fish. The use of cross-hatching creates a sense of depth and dimensionality in the image. The level of detail and the use of symbolism in this engraving are characteristic of the Renaissance style. To learn more about this style, explore the Renaissance movement.