Neptune and Amphitrite in the Storm 

Jacob Jordaens painted Neptune and Amphitrite in the Storm using oil on canvas in Antwerp, likely sometime between 1640 and 1650. This vivid depiction of the Roman gods of the sea invites us to consider the public role of art in the social and cultural context of 17th-century Flanders. Jordaens uses the visual codes of Baroque art to celebrate the power and drama of the natural world. Here, the artist evokes Flanders's close ties to the sea through maritime trade and naval power. Religious beliefs also play a role, as this work appropriates classical mythology for Christian purposes by associating earthly elements with divine authority. Institutions such as the Antwerp Guild of Saint Luke shaped artistic production. Artists navigated patronage, market demands, and professional training within this network, where there was an engagement with conservative and progressive aesthetics. To understand this painting fully, we can explore archival sources, guild records, and other historical documents to better appreciate the complex interplay between art, society, and the institutions that shaped it.