Daughters of Cecrops Disclosing Erichthonius in a Basket - Pieter van Sompel

A detailed seventeenth-century engraving by Pieter van Sompel, after Peter Paul Rubens, depicting the mythological discovery of the infant Erichthonius.

This engraving by Pieter van Sompel depicts the mythological narrative of the daughters of Cecrops, who discover the infant Erichthonius hidden within a basket. The composition is based on a painting by Peter Paul Rubens, reflecting the collaborative nature of print production in the seventeenth-century Netherlands. Van Sompel, a skilled engraver, translates the painterly qualities of the original work into a series of precise lines and tonal variations.

The scene features a group of figures gathered near a fountain, with the central focus on the basket containing the child. To the left, a statue of a multi-breasted figure, likely Artemis of Ephesus, sits within a niche, providing a classical context for the mythological event. The figures exhibit the characteristic physical forms associated with Rubens, featuring rounded limbs and expressive postures. A small dog sits near the basket, while a putto stands beside the women, adding a sense of movement to the arrangement. The background includes a tree and architectural elements, which provide a sense of spatial depth without overwhelming the primary subjects.

Van Sompel employs a variety of hatching techniques to define the musculature of the figures and the texture of the drapery. The engraving captures the interplay of light and shadow, which is essential for conveying the volume of the forms. The Latin inscription at the bottom of the print references the classical tradition, linking the visual representation to ancient artistic ideals. This work serves as an example of how seventeenth-century printmakers disseminated the compositions of major painters to a wider audience, allowing collectors to acquire reproductions of significant mythological scenes. The technical proficiency of the engraving ensures that the narrative clarity of the original painting is maintained through the medium of black and white printmaking.