The artwork titled “A Sea Monster Bearing Away a Princess” is an engraving created by the artist Albrecht Dürer in 1528. It represents the Northern Renaissance art movement and falls within the mythological painting genre. The piece is part of the collection at Fenton House, located in London, UK.
In this engraving, there is a substantial amount of detail that portrays a dramatic scene. The image shows a half-clad princess in the clutches of a fantastical sea creature. The creature appears as an amalgamation of various animal features, with a vaguely human-like face resplendent with a beard, the body of a fish covered with scales and several limbs that seem to be a hybrid of aquatic and terrestrial forms.
The princess, with a serene yet distant expression, appears to be taken away by the creature through the churning waters of a river or sea. The backdrop of this encounter is a meticulously detailed landscape featuring a castle atop a rocky cliff, which gives a sense of grandeur and brings an element of reality to the mythical narrative. In the background, there are additional figures on horseback, cloud formations in the sky, and a lush environment that offers depth to the composition.
Albrecht Dürer’s monogram, “AD,” can be seen in the foreground, signifying his authorship of this work. The density of detail and chiaroscuro in the engraving reflect the intricacy and craftsmanship that is typical of Dürer’s work and of the Northern Renaissance period. Keep in mind that while the image shared appears to contain an engraving by Albrecht Dürer, without proper verification, it cannot be confirmed as an authentic work or a specific historical piece.
