Oreads Removing a Thorn from a Satyr's Foot
Around 1590, Jan Muller, one of the most sought-after Mannerist printmakers, began making engravings after designs by Bartholomeus Spranger, the court painter to the Emperor Rudolf II of Prague. Rudolf, who reigned from 1576 to 1612, surrounded himself with artists, writers, scientists and mathematicians, who prized novelty and invention above all else.
For example, the wounded shepherd with a thorn in his foot is a familiar subject in classical poetry and art, but Spranger seemingly invented a new variation on the theme. As illustrated in Muller’s engraving of the composition, Spranger replaces the shepherd with a handsome faun, who looks almost human apart from his pointy ears and the horns curling out of his hair. He is attended by three other mythological creatures, a young satyr, who supports his wounded leg, and two female figures known as oreads. Commentators have mistaken them for female satyrs, but classical sources suggest they are actually mountain nymphs, devotees of Artemis, the Greek goddess of the hunt. The imagery of the engraving is clearly erotic, but in giving the oread who kneels to remove the thorn over large spectacles, the artist adds an intentionally comic element to the work.
For example, the wounded shepherd with a thorn in his foot is a familiar subject in classical poetry and art, but Spranger seemingly invented a new variation on the theme. As illustrated in Muller’s engraving of the composition, Spranger replaces the shepherd with a handsome faun, who looks almost human apart from his pointy ears and the horns curling out of his hair. He is attended by three other mythological creatures, a young satyr, who supports his wounded leg, and two female figures known as oreads. Commentators have mistaken them for female satyrs, but classical sources suggest they are actually mountain nymphs, devotees of Artemis, the Greek goddess of the hunt. The imagery of the engraving is clearly erotic, but in giving the oread who kneels to remove the thorn over large spectacles, the artist adds an intentionally comic element to the work.
Artwork Details
- Title: Oreads Removing a Thorn from a Satyr's Foot
- Artist: Jan Muller (Netherlandish, Amsterdam 1571–1628 Amsterdam)
- Artist: After Bartholomeus Spranger (Netherlandish, Antwerp 1546–1611 Prague)
- Date: 1590
- Medium: Engraving
- Dimensions: Sheet (title spce trimmed off below): 9 13/16 × 7 5/8 in. (25 × 19.3 cm)
- Classification: Prints
- Credit Line: The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1949
- Object Number: 49.95.1829
- Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Jan Muller
Lucas van Leyden
n.d.
Jan Muller
Harmen Jansz. Muller
1593
Jan Muller
Harmen Jansz. Muller
ca. 1600
Jan Muller
Harmen Jansz. Muller
1591
Jan Muller
Harmen Jansz. Muller
ca. 1591
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.