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Neptune
(Renaissance Europe )
This muscular, standing figure of Neptune, Roman god of the sea, is carried on a tiny chariot drawn by hippocamps (mythic creatures, half horse and half fish). Originally, he held a trident in his right hand and the reins in his left. The image of Neptune being drawn across the waters that he ruled was inspired by readings of ancient epic poetry. The model for this stocky Neptune was Venetian- apparently based on a Roman figure of Hercules- but it was further explored by German sculptors, probably from Nuremberg. Some versions of this piece were made for table fountains.
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object.
Robert Mayer, Vienna [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Paul Drey Gallery [Elisabeth M. Drey], New York [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1959, by purchase.
Exhibitions
| 1983-1984 | Nuremberg, A Renaissance City. Archer M. Huntington Art Gallery, University of Texas at Austin, Austin. |
| 1971-1972 | World of Wonder. The Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore. |
Conservation
| Date | Description | Narrative |
|---|---|---|
| 7/1/1983 | Treatment | cleaned |
Geographies
Germany, Nuremberg (Place of Origin)
Measurements
15 x 4 3/8 x 6 1/2 in. (38.1 x 11.11 x 16.51 cm)
Credit Line
Museum purchase, 1959
Location in Museum
Not on view
Accession Number
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
54.2441