Who painted Goddesses on the River?

Goddesses on the River was painted by Balthasar Moncornet in 1634.

Where can I see Goddesses on the River?

Goddesses on the River is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Goddesses on the River?

Goddesses on the River is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

Goddesses on the River

Balthasar Moncornet , 1634

Goddesses on the River is an ink print by the Baroque artist Balthasar Moncornet. It dates from 1634 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Balthasar Moncornet’s 1634 print, titled *Goddesses on the River*, is an etching executed on laid paper. The composition depicts a fantastical river scene populated by two enormous sea‑like forms that support vessels marked “Fleuve” and “Deesse,” while smaller boats and cloud‑shaped islands fill the surrounding space.

Subject & Meaning

The work combines allegorical references to river deities—a frequent Baroque motif—with a surreal arrangement of human activity. The inscription “Deesse” suggests a celebration of feminine divine forces linked to waterways, while the presence of ordinary travelers hints at the interplay between the mortal and the mythic.

Technique & Style

Moncornet employed the traditional etching process, incising lines into a copper plate with a needle and then using acid to bite the design. The resulting sharp contours and graduated shading give the scene a crisp, detailed quality that simultaneously conveys a sense of mystery through its dreamlike forms.

History & Provenance

Active in 17th‑century France as a painter, engraver, and tapestry designer, Moncornet is documented for portraying roughly forty‑five notable contemporaries. *Goddesses on the River* reflects his broader interest in classical subjects rendered for a print‑collecting audience of the period.

Context

During the early Baroque era, artists frequently turned to antiquity for allegorical content, and prints served as a vehicle for disseminating such themes. Moncornet’s etching aligns with this cultural trend, marrying classical iconography with the technical possibilities of copper‑plate printing.

Artist & collection

Artist

Balthasar Moncornet

Balthasar Moncornet (1600, Rouen – 1668, Paris) was a French painter, engraver, and tapissier revered for his depictions of around 45 different prominent figures of the 17th century.