Neptune, ou la maitrise des mers

In this dynamic textile, the Roman god Neptune, trident in hand, commands a tumultuous sea, his chariot pulled by spirited hippocampi. The scene is teeming with classical figures: nereids, tritons, and putti frolic in the waves, some holding aloft coral and shells, others blowing conch horns. The intricate design, printed in a single color on cotton, captures the dramatic energy of the mythological narrative. While many copperplate textiles of this period featured pastoral or allegorical scenes, this work plunges viewers into a vivid, almost theatrical marine epic. The detailed engraving allows for a remarkable range of tonal variations, from the deep shadows of the churning water to the highlights on the figures' musculature, creating a sense of depth and movement on the flat fabric.