The Daughters of Cecrops Finding the Child Erichthonius

Jordaens painted The Daughters of Cecrops Finding the Child Erichthonius around 1617, depicting the Ovidian myth in which the daughters of the Athenian king discover the serpent-entwined infant Erichthonius left by Athena. The subject permitted the display of female figures in states of surprise and alarm, a favorite Baroque device for exploring bodily expression and the drama of sudden revelation. Jordaens's early treatment shows his debt to Rubens in the warm flesh tones and energetic composition, while the landscape setting and the animal presence of the serpents allow the display of his naturalistic skills beyond pure figure painting. The work demonstrates the range of mythological subjects circulating in Antwerp's vibrant early seventeenth-century art market.

The composition groups the discovering women around the basket with characteristic Jordaens physicality. The warm, earthy palette and bold figure types create a naturalistic interpretation of the classical myth.