Neptune apaisant la tempête (Neptune Calming the Storm)
18th century
Medium
Etching and engraving
Dimensions
Sheet: 24 3/16 x 17 1/2 in. (61.4 x 44.5 cm) Plate: 23 1/8 x 16 in. (58.8 x 40.6 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1959
Accession Number
59.599.30
Tags
Art Historical Context
This 18th-century etching and engraving captures the dramatic moment when Neptune, the Roman god of the sea, rises to calm a turbulent storm. Designed by François Boucher and executed by engraver François Antoine Aveline, the print draws on classical mythology to depict divine power over nature, a theme popular in French art of the Rococo period. Boucher’s characteristic elegance and fluid forms are translated through the precise lines of the print medium, emphasizing swirling waves and the god’s commanding gesture. The inclusion of a coat of arms hints at a possible dedication or patronage c...
About the Artist
François Boucher|François Antoine Aveline · 1703–1770
François Boucher (1703–1770) stands as the quintessential master of French Rococo painting and the most celebrated decorative artist of the 18th century. Born in Paris to a lace designer, Boucher created a visual language that perfectly embodied the refined taste, sensuality, and elegance of Louis XV's court. His prolific output—encompassing paintings, tapestry designs, theatrical sets, and decora...