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Sirens, Naiads, and Tritons

Angelo Falconetto

1544

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance Mythology

Dominant colour

Sirens, Naiads, and Tritons is a 1544 ink by Angelo Falconetto, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Angelo Falconetto
When & what style?: 1544 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This black-and-white print shows a wild underwater scene. Three muscular, winged figures float near the surface, tangled in seaweed. One holds a spear, another clutches a fish, and a third looks up with a surprised face. Below them, a baby-like figure floats on a shell, surrounded by swirling water and strange sea creatures. The artist used sharp lines to show the figures’ muscles and the movement of the waves. The print looks like it was carved into metal, not painted. Want to see more? Look up etching to learn how this technique works.