Neptune and Amphitrite 1595 - 1675

Hans Ulrich Franck created this drawing of Neptune and Amphitrite in pen and brown ink with gray wash on paper. Notice how the circular composition immediately draws our eyes into the dynamic interplay of form and line. The figures of Neptune and Amphitrite, rendered in a soft, gray wash, contrast with the kinetic energy of the horses, sketched with bold, assertive strokes. Franck masterfully employs the classical subject matter of the sea god and his wife to explore the baroque aesthetics of movement and emotion, giving the scene a sense of drama and liveliness. The artist's choice to concentrate his use of chiaroscuro around the figures of Neptune and Amphitrite anchors them within the dynamism of the scene. By observing these compositional and tonal choices, we can see that Franck creates a dialogue between classical themes and a more expressive baroque style. This dialogue invites continuous reinterpretation.