Coastal Landscape with Hero and Leander

Unknown artist

Hieronymus Cock took his brother Matthijs’ drawing as the point of departure for this print. He replaced the figure of Saint Christopher with Hero and Leander, an amorous mythological couple. Leander would swim across the Hellespont to be with his beloved Hero, but drowned one stormy winter night. The broken-hearted Hero found his body on the beach the next morning.