The Wrath of Neptune
Tiziano Minio (Italian, 1511/12–1552)
late 1500s to early 1600s
Medium
bronze
Dimensions
36.7 × 17.2 × 19.4 cm
Classification
Sculpture
Department
European Painting and Sculpture
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Gift of Barrie Morrison
Accession Number
1974.273
Tags
male
About this artwork
In Roman mythology, Neptune (or Poseidon in Greek mythology) is the god of flowing water and is believed to protect against droughts. This small bronze is likely a sculptural representation of the Wrath of Neptune from the Aeneid. During the Trojan War, Juno incited winds to sink Trojan ships. Infuriated by Juno's incursion into his domain of the sea, Neptune rides out in his chariot, saving the Trojan army and threatening to punish the winds for their insolence. The massive, muscular nude male ...