The Triumph of Neptune

Art Historical Context

Created around 1490–1510 by the Italian artist Peregrino da Cesena, *The Triumph of Neptune* is a delicate niello print measuring just 2.8 by 6.1 centimeters. Niello prints were produced by taking impressions from small engraved silver plaques whose incised lines had been filled with a black metallic alloy. This early printmaking technique flourished in northern Italy during the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries, bridging the worlds of goldsmithing and the emerging art of engraving. The subject draws on classical mythology, depicting the Roman sea god Neptune in a triumphant procession—an image that resonated with Renaissance humanists’ fascination for ancient Roman imagery. Such miniature works were often collected as portable examples of refined craftsmanship, reflecting both technical virtuosity and a taste for antique themes. Housed in the National Gallery of Art’s Rosenwald Collection, this tiny print offers a glimpse into the intimate scale and exquisite detail prized by early collectors of prints.