Erichthonius Discovered by the Daughters of Cecrops
Peter Paul Rubens·1616
Historical Context
Rubens painted Erichthonius Discovered by the Daughters of Cecrops around 1616, another treatment of the myth he painted several times. The three daughters of King Cecrops open a basket to discover the infant Erichthonius, born from the earth, guarded by serpents. The subject allowed Rubens to display three contrasting female figures — curiosity, horror, and fascination — while demonstrating his mastery of the nude. Now in the Liechtenstein Museum, the painting belongs to one of Europe's great private collections.
Technical Analysis
The composition groups three nude female figures around the opened basket, each reacting differently to the discovery. Rubens' luminous flesh painting and the varied poses create a dynamic composition that combines beauty with narrative drama.
Look Closer
- ◆The daughters of Cecrops open the forbidden basket to find the infant Erichthonius, half-child and half-serpent — their horror is vividly expressed
- ◆The serpentine lower body of the infant transitions seamlessly from human flesh to reptilian scales, a painterly tour de force
- ◆The women's luminous flesh provides the sensuous element Rubens's patrons expected, framed by the narrative of forbidden curiosity
- ◆An old crone, possibly Athena's servant, watches from the shadows as her warning goes unheeded
Condition & Conservation
This mythological subject from 1616 has been conserved over the centuries. The canvas has been relined. The variety of flesh tones — from the serpentine infant to the luminous women — has been preserved through careful conservation. Some areas of the dark background have lost transparency.
