Neptune astride a hippocamp
Unknown Artist
1600–1610
Medium
Lead-glazed earthenware
Dimensions
Height: 10 3/8 in. (26.4 cm)
Classification
Ceramics-Pottery
Culture
probably French, Fontainebleau
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Francis P. Garvan, 1966
Accession Number
66.236
Tags
Art Historical Context
Behold this delightful lead-glazed earthenware sculpture *Neptune astride hippocamp*, created by an unknown artist around 1600–1610. Standing just 10⅜ inches (26.4 cm) tall, it captures the Roman god of the sea,, triumphantly riding a mythical hippocamp—a seahorse-like creature from classical mythology. Likely produced in the Fontainebleau region of France, a renowned artistic hub near the royal palace, this piece reflects the era's fascination with mythological themes in decorative arts. Crafted from earthenware coated with a lead glaze, the work showcases a technique that yielded a glossy, ...