Standbeeld van Neptunus 1745

Editor: This pen drawing, “Standbeeld van Neptunus,” or Statue of Neptune, by John Baptist Jackson, created in 1745, certainly evokes a sense of classical power and strength, but with a slight awkwardness in its rendering. What resonates with you as you view this piece? Curator: I see an image steeped in classical aspiration, yet rendered through a filter of cultural memory and artistic interpretation. The figure of Neptune, with his trident and commanding stance, immediately evokes the Roman god of the sea, linking us to the power and mythology of antiquity. Editor: I notice the statue’s pedestal has words etched in it – “Give Fluid Ductibus.” What does this mean? Curator: Yes, “Give Fluid Ductibus.” Notice how water imagery is very intentionally crafted: it underscores Neptune’s domain but may be interpreted on different levels. Given this period’s interest in classical themes, what connections do you think an 18th-century viewer would make with the inclusion of water and ductibus? Editor: Maybe something about controlling nature or using Roman ingenuity to channel water for their aqueducts? Curator: Precisely. There’s an aspiration toward Roman engineering and authority, but it's filtered through Jackson's contemporary lens. The artist has used cross-hatching to define volume, musculature and shadows in great detail to highlight an understanding of depth and mass, reminiscent of woodcut techniques, don’t you agree? Editor: Now that you mention it, the image feels almost like a sculpture brought to life on paper. I like how the artist plays with depth by suggesting shadows! Curator: This drawing bridges artistic techniques and cultural aspirations, it is simultaneously looking backward towards an idealized past and forward towards new modes of expression. Its meaning shifts and evolves. Editor: I see it now. Thanks for pointing out all these subtle details, Curator. I will certainly consider the cultural associations within art differently from now on!