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Neptune's Kingdom

Jacques de Gheyn II

1587

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance Allegory

Dominant colour

Neptune's Kingdom is a 1587 ink by Jacques de Gheyn II, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Jacques de Gheyn II
When & what style?: 1587 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This engraving shows a wild underwater scene. A bearded man sits in the center, surrounded by sea creatures, shells, and tangled seaweed. Above him, a muscular figure with a trident rides a sea monster. Smaller figures swim or cling to rocks, while fish and plants fill the background. The artist packed every inch with tiny details—look at the tiny shells and waves. This style was common in the 1500s when artists loved cramming scenes with meaning. Want to see more like this? Check out engraving to learn how artists carved these sharp lines.