The Triumph of Neptune and Amphitrite

Frans Francken II's Triumph of Neptune and Amphitrite from the 1630s depicts the mythological sea god's marriage procession, a subject that allowed the painter to display his skill in rendering elaborate marine mythology. Francken was the most prolific and versatile of the Antwerp Franckens, producing an enormous output of cabinet paintings on copper and panel that served the sophisticated tastes of Antwerp's collector class.

The oil-on-copper technique, mounted on wood, produces a luminous, enamel-like surface that enhances the jewel-like colors of the mythological scene. Francken's precise, detailed brushwork renders the water nymphs, tritons, and marine creatures with decorative refinement.