Young Nymph entering the water

Nymphs are a common theme in art. They derive from Greek mythology and they are usually associated with nature. They are different from Greek goddesses as they are minor deities usually tied to a specific natural element or landform. They were not immortal as the Gods but they would live much more than human beings on earth. Mythology groups them with different names depending on the elements they are representing: Meliae (ash tree nymphs), Naiads (freshwater nymphs), Nereids (sea nymphs), Oreads (mountain nymphs).