Neptune and Amphitrite

The painting "Neptune and Amphitrite" was created around 1516 by Jan Gossart, a Netherlandish painter who was among the first to introduce the Italian Renaissance style to the Low Countries.1

Amphitrite is a figure from Greek mythology, the goddess of the sea and wife of Poseidon. She was one of the Nereids, daughters of the sea god Nereus. In Roman religion, Neptune was originally a god of fresh water but became identified with the Greek Poseidon, thus becoming a sea deity. His female counterpart, Salacia, was equated with the Greek Amphitrite.23

Gossart's "Neptune and Amphitrite" is noted for its comparatively simple and direct conception, a departure from his earlier complex designs, reflecting his strong impression from Italian Renaissance art after his trip to Italy in 1508.1