The Daughters of Cecrops find little Erichthonios
about 1640 | Jacob Jordaens
Mother Earth was fertilised during the attempted rape of Minerva by Vulcan. Minerva locked Erichthonios, her snake-footed offspring, in a small box which she entrusted to the daughters of Cecrops, King of Attica, with strict instructions not to open it. In their curiosity Cecrops’ daughters could not resist breaking Minerva’s order. On hearing of the girls’ disobedience, Minerva punished them with insanity. As a result, the girls committed suicide.
Mother Earth was fertilised during the attempted rape of Minerva by Vulcan. Minerva locked Erichthonios, her snake-footed offspring, in a small box which she entrusted to the daughters of Cecrops, King of Attica, with strict instructions not to open it. In their curiosity Cecrops’ daughters could not resist breaking Minerva’s order. On hearing of the girls’ disobedience, Minerva punished them with insanity. As a result, the girls committed suicide.
Artist:
Jacob Jordaens (1593 Antwerpen - 1678 Antwerpen) DNB
Time:
about 1640
Object Name
Painting
Culture
Flemish
Material/technology:
Canvas
Dimensions:
150 cm × 208 cm
Framed: 181,5 cm × 240 cm × 12,5 cm
Copyright
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Gemäldegalerie
Invs.
Gemäldegalerie, 6488
Provenance
1924 Acquisition of the company P. Cassirer, Berlin;