Artus Wolffort (1581-1641) - circle of, Artus Wolffort (1581-1641) - circle of. Achelous’ banquet with Theseus

Artus Wolffort (1581–1641) – circle of. Achelous’ banquet with Theseus

The river god Achelous has invited Theseus and his companions to a banquet in his grotto because his river is flooding dangerously due to rain and cannot be crossed. Numerous stories of transformations are told at the banquet (Books VIII and IX). Achelous has raised a wine glass so that a nymph can pour him wine. Theseus sits next to him with a golden goblet. The river god had just told of his unhappy love story and now turns to a nymph of Diana, who from the left, with two companions, brings the fruits of autumn for dessert in a cornucopia (Ovid, Metamorphoses, IX, 89-92). Three putti enrich the group of young women, one holds the cornucopia, another reaches for the fruit and a third on the right is already eating a fruit. In the foreground of the picture are a crab and fish. Oil on copper, 24 × 36 cm