Where can I see this painting?

Nymph and Satyr is displayed at the Louvre in Paris. It was donated to the museum in 1869. Jean-Antoine Watteau painted Nymph and Satyr around 1715-1716, an oval oil on canvas measuring 73.5 x 107.5 cm.

What myth does the painting depict?

The scene shows Jupiter seducing Antiope from Ovid's Metamorphoses. The god disguises himself as a satyr to approach the sleeping nymph You can see it at Louvre, Paris.

Why is the painting oval?

Watteau designed the oval shape for placement above a doorway. The composition curves to match this decorative format You can see it at Louvre, Paris.

How big is the painting?

The oval canvas measures 73.5 x 107.5 cm (approximately 29 x 42 inches) You can see it at Louvre, Paris.

Where Is Nymph and Satyr, or Jupiter and Antiope?

French artist Jean-Antoine Watteau painted this Nymph and Satyr around 1715-1716, an oval oil on canvas measuring 73.5 x 107.5 cm. The scene comes from Ovid's Metamorphoses: Jupiter disguised as a satyr approaches the sleeping nymph Antiope, lifting her veil to reveal her nude form. It's one of Watteau's most overtly erotic works.

The oval shape was designed for placement above a doorway. The composition echoes this frame, with Antiope's body forming the horizontal axis and her bent legs creating the vertical. The satyr's reaching arms curve parallel to the upper edge, repeating the oval within the image. Scholars debate whether to call the figure Jupiter or simply a satyr, since no identifying symbols like eagles or thunderbolts appear.

Léopold-Philippe d'Arenberg commissioned the work, paying 200 livres in May 1717. The painting passed through private collections in Brussels and Paris before entering the Louvre in 1869. Watteau's Rococo elegance and luminous pink flesh tones influenced later interpretations of classical myths.