Neptune with Two Horses on the Sea

About this work

This etching depicts Neptune, the Roman god of the sea, riding a horse-like creature with a fish tail. He holds a trident in his right hand and reins in his left. A woman, possibly Amphitrite, Neptune's wife, sits on a shell beside him, holding a pearl necklace. In the background, two cherubs fly above the sea, and a sun shines through clouds. The scene is rendered in detailed lines, with shading that gives depth to the figures and the sea. The etching technique allows for intricate textures, from the roughness of Neptune's beard to the smoothness of the sea. To explore more Renaissance art, check out the works of Schut I, Cornelis.