Neptune, unknown maker from the Holy Roman Empire

Artwork Overview

Neptune
Neptune
Neptune
1700s
Neptune , 1700s
Where object was made: Holy Roman Empire (present-day Germany)
Material/technique: boxwood
Dimensions:
Object Height (Height): 11.4 cm
Object Height (Height): 4 1/2 in
Credit line: Gift of Hugo Weisgall
Accession number: 1957.0100.01
Not on display
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Images

Label texts

Archive Label 2003: The figurine with reeds curling between his legs is identified as Neptune, god of the seas, while the other is Jupiter, who grasps thunderbolts in his hand. Jupiter is curiously depicted as a statue breaking in half with a dragon-like creature emerging from its hollow interior. This representation relates to an apocryphal legend associated with the Christian story of the Flight of the Holy Family into Egypt. According to the legend, as Joseph, Mary, and the Christ Child passed by statues of pagan gods on their journey, these fell down and broke, with their evil nature escaping from the shattered sculpture. Neptune is still intact, indicating that the Holy Family has not yet passed by his statue. The setting for these figurines could have been part of an elaborate Nativity tableau with episodes both preceding and succeeding the birth of Christ.

Resources

Audio

Didactic – Art Minute
Didactic – Art Minute
Episode 282 (revised Episode 45). I’m David Cateforis with another Art Minute from the Spencer Museum of Art. A small pair of grotesque and curious sculptures occupy the corner of a display case in the Spencer's 17th and 18th century gallery. Intricately carved of boxwood by a mid-eighteenth century German artist, the writhing figurines are muscular, bearded males wearing nothing but their crowns. One of them sways in place, his elongated limbs supported by serpentine reeds. He is Neptune, the ancient Roman god of the seas. With a finger at his chin he looks toward his brother Jupiter, who is breaking in half at the waist as a dragon emerges from his torso. From the waist up, the king of the gods retains a confident gesture, still grasping a bundle of thunderbolts, even as his body is ripped apart. According to a Christian legend, when the holy family passed by statues of pagan gods, the sculptures shattered as their evil nature escaped. The Spencer’s figurine of Neptune is still intact, perhaps indicating that the family had not yet passed by it. As a pair, Neptune and Jupiter would have made a gruesome addition to an elaborate Nativity tableau. With thanks to Karen Gerety Folk for her text, from the Spencer Museum of Art, I’m David Cateforis.