Getroonde Neptunus met nereïden en tritons 1608 - 1650

Pierre Brebiette etched this depiction of a throned Neptune amidst nereids and tritons. Neptune, Roman god of the sea, holds dominion over these mythical beings, representing the primal power of water. Nereids, sea nymphs, and tritons, mermen with conch shells, are ancient symbols of the life-giving, yet tumultuous, nature of the ocean. Consider Neptune’s trident, a recurring symbol across cultures, echoing Poseidon's weapon in Greek mythology. This three-pronged spear represents power over the seas, evoking the subconscious human desire to control the uncontrollable forces of nature. Similarly, the motif of the throne elevates Neptune, embodying authority and divine order, a theme repeated in the iconography of kings and gods throughout history. These symbols speak to our collective memory, reflecting humanity's enduring fascination with the sea and its symbolic associations with fertility, chaos, and the subconscious. Brebiette taps into this primal connection, creating a work that resonates on a deeper, psychological level, reminding us of the cyclical nature of symbols and their persistent power across time.