Council of the Gods

The classical gods have gathered for a cheerful meeting in the clouds. An idealised hilly landscape stretches out beneath them. Van Poelenburch based his naked goddesses on the Roman statues he had seen in Italy.

Van Poelenburch lived for a few years in Rome, and was one of the first generation of Utrecht artists to start painting southern landscapes on their return. He had great success with them, and his work was very popular with the grand duke of Tuscany, the Dutch stadholder and the king of England.