Female Satyr with Children on an Altar
1626
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
1626
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Female Satyr with Children on an Altar is a 1626 ink by Pierre Brebiette, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This black-and-white print shows a busy scene with lots of figures. On the left, people hold bows and arrows, some dancing or playing music. In the middle, a woman in a long dress stands near an altar with a child and a dog. To the right, another woman holds a fan, and more figures gather around a table with a vase. The background has columns and trees, and small animals like a deer and a bird are scattered around. The woman at the altar looks different from the others—she’s dressed simply, and the child clings to her. This might be the "Female Satyr with Children" from the title, standing out in the crowd. If you like this style, look up etching to see how artists like Brebiette made prints like this.
