Who painted The Daughters of the Po with River Gods?

The Daughters of the Po with River Gods was painted by Joseph Heintz the Elder in 1591.

Where can I see The Daughters of the Po with River Gods?

The Daughters of the Po with River Gods is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is The Daughters of the Po with River Gods?

The Daughters of the Po with River Gods is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

The Daughters of the Po with River Gods

Joseph Heintz the Elder , 1591

The Daughters of the Po with River Gods is an ink drawing by the Renaissance artist Joseph Heintz the Elder. It dates from 1591 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

The work titled *The Daughters of the Po with River Gods* is a drawing executed in 1591 by the Flemish artist Joseph Heintz the Elder. Rendered on laid paper, the composition combines pen work with brown ink, a brown wash, and watercolor, accented by touches of white, red, and green gouache. The image depicts mythological figures associated with the River Po.

Technique & Style

Heintz employed a multilayered approach, beginning with fine pen lines in brown ink to define the scene, then applying a brown wash to establish tonal depth.

Heintz employed a multilayered approach, beginning with fine pen lines in brown ink to define the scene, then applying a brown wash to establish tonal depth. Watercolor washes build atmospheric effects, while selective gouache in white, red, and green highlights specific elements, creating contrast. The paper’s surface was indented to aid transfer, a method common in late‑Renaissance drawing practices.

History & Provenance

Created in the late sixteenth century, the drawing reflects Heintz’s interest in classical mythology, a subject popular among patrons of the period. While the original ownership record is sparse, the piece has been documented in collections of European drawings, indicating its circulation among connoisseurs of Northern Renaissance art. Its date of 1591 places it among the artist’s mature works.