Piero di Cosimo also known as Piero di Lorenzo, was born on 1462 in Florence, Italy. He was an Italian Renaissance painter noted for his idiosyncratic character and fanciful mythological paintings. As he never attended any specific painting school, he adopted the techniques of other artists and developed his own unique style. He gained fame as a designer of processions and pageants in Florence. In 1511 carnival, his "Triumphal Chariot of Death" made a profound impression.
The "Tritons and Nereids" of Piero is an exceptional example of High Renaissance art which reflects the mythologoical themes of that period, made in 1500. Number of mythical sea creatures-Tritons and Nereids are depicted in this painting. According to Greek mythology, these creatures are male and female dieties of the sea. The artist skillfully used vibrant oil colors and fine deatils to depict this lively acquatic scene movement. The artwork gives a glipmse into the culture and belief of that period.
This painting mimics the form of ancient Greek vases or tapestries that usually laid out an entire myth or the creation of natural phenomena or mythical creatures such as these. Every figure is in a state of motion and their movement is fluid, mimicking the aquatic setting as well as the half aquatic nature of the Tritons and Nereids.
