Neptunus 1757

Willem Hendrik van der Wall sculpted this Neptunus in the 18th century. Note how the figure of Neptune, god of the sea, brandishes his trident. This is a powerful symbol, not merely of authority over the seas, but a gesture that ties back to ancient conceptions of power. The trident, often associated with lightning bolts in earlier mythologies, underscores Neptune’s potent, sometimes volatile, dominion. The depiction of Neptune, a virile, bearded man, partially draped, echoes the classical ideals of beauty and strength. We see similar figures across Renaissance art, each drawing from a deep well of shared cultural memory, subtly altered through time. Consider the emotional resonance these images carry; they tap into primal fears and desires, stirring feelings of awe and respect. The recurring motif serves as a constant reminder of our connection to the past, informing our present, in a non-linear progression.