Neptunus in triomfwagen kalmeert zee tijdens Trojaanse oorlog 1648 - 1664

Editor: Here we have Cornelis van Dalen II’s engraving, “Neptunus in triomfwagen kalmeert zee tijdens Trojaanse oorlog,” which translates to Neptune in a Chariot Calming the Sea During the Trojan War. It was created sometime between 1648 and 1664. The scale of everything—the god, the horses, the battles—makes it feel overwhelmingly epic, but what grabs my eye is Juno on that cloud in the top portion. What are your impressions of the overall composition? Curator: Oh, Juno! Perched there with her peacocks, a veritable storm of watchful eyes. Van Dalen has woven such a delicious tapestry of power. Neptune, muscles rippling, subduing the sea and the chaos of war itself – and above, Juno, queen of the gods, overseeing it all like a disapproving headmistress. It's that tension between divine order and human folly that sings to me. The churning sea, a mirror to the turmoil in the foreground…it speaks volumes. Do you sense how the artist directs your gaze upward, Editor, towards that watchful figure? Editor: Yes, it's impossible to miss her! And that sea is quite active and dynamic with great attention to detail. Why do you think van Dalen included Juno observing everything from above? Curator: I feel that, perhaps, van Dalen invites us to consider the layers of conflict. The Trojan War wasn't *just* a human affair. The gods meddled, picked sides, amplified the chaos. Juno's presence becomes a symbol of divine intervention, a reminder that earthly conflicts are often puppets in a larger, more capricious game. Do you think that interpretation holds water, given what you know of the period? Editor: That makes sense, especially with the amount of symbolism in Baroque art, where images tend to have several layers of meaning. Now that you point it out, Juno is basically judging everyone! I didn't even see the peacocks before! Curator: Exactly! Sometimes, these visual reminders lurk right beneath the surface. Editor: I guess I see this piece in a completely new light! Thanks!