Design for a Panel with a Depiction of Boreas Abducting Oreithyia 1600 - 1700

This anonymous drawing, created between 1600 and 1700, is a design for a panel depicting the myth of Boreas, the Greek god of the north wind, abducting Oreithyia, a daughter of the Athenian king Erechtheus. The design is framed by an intricate, multi-layered border, suggesting that it was intended for a decorative panel in a grand interior setting. The scene itself is dynamic, with Boreas in mid-flight, carrying Oreithyia off, while figures observing the event are depicted in the foreground. This drawing is an example of a design for decorative art, a common genre of artwork in the 17th century. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City houses this delicate, 9.5 x 24.1 cm artwork.