Bronze statuette of Neptune
Unknown Artist
2nd century CE
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
H. 4 3/4 in. (12.1 cm)
Classification
Bronzes
Culture & Period
Roman · Mid-Imperial
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1911
Accession Number
11.56
Tags
Art Historical Context
This charming bronze statuette of Neptune standing just 4 3/4 inches tall, captures the Roman god of the sea in form from the Mid-Imperial period around the 2nd century CE. Crafted by an unknown artist, it hails from the height of the Roman Empire, such small-scale bronzes were prized for their portability and lifelike detail. Acquired through the Rogers Fund in 1911, it now graces the Greek and Roman Art department at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Bronze was a luxurious medium in antiquity, cast using the lost-wax technique that allowed for intricate modeling of Neptune's muscular form, li...