Art, Myth & Old Masters · 18th century
€ 1 150
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Condition report: Good overall condition. Light age-related toning and minor surface wear. Plate mark visible.
Neptune / Poseidon Sculptures and Coins – Roman Antiquity Engraving, 1721
This finely engraved plate presents a scholarly survey of classical representations of Neptune (Poseidon), the Roman god of the sea, as recorded in ancient sculpture, relief, and numismatic sources. At the center is a monumental sculptural group showing Neptune standing triumphantly over a sea creature, holding his trident, accompanied by architectural and relief fragments. Surrounding this main image are comparative figures, including full-length statues, reliefs, and circular medallion-style engravings after ancient coins and gems, illustrating the evolution of Neptune’s iconography across Roman antiquity.
The plate was published in 1721 in the English edition of Bernard de Montfaucon’s Antiquity Explained and Represented in Sculptures, printed in London. Montfaucon’s work was the most ambitious antiquarian project of the early 18th century, systematically cataloguing classical monuments and forming the foundation of modern archaeology and classical art history. The imagery is engraved after ancient works documented by Giovanni Pietro Bellori and other Italian antiquarians, making this plate part of a pan-European scholarly tradition rooted in Roman collections.
Visually, the composition is exceptionally strong: the dynamic central sculpture anchors the sheet, while the surrounding circular studies create rhythm and balance. The subject matter—Neptune as a powerful elemental deity—makes this an especially decorative and recognizable classical plate, well suited to both scholarly collections and refined interior settings. It pairs naturally with Jupiter, Apollo, or Bacchic subjects from the same series.
Condition report: Good overall condition. Light age-related toning and minor surface wear. Central vertical fold line visible, as issued, typical for plates from this publication. Plate mark visible.
Framing tips: This plate benefits from a wide, light mat (warm white or soft ivory) to emphasize the engraving’s scale and detail. A dark wood or black ebonized frame enhances the classical gravitas, while a gilded frame creates a more museum-style presentation.
Technique: Copper engraving
Maker: Bernard de Montfaucon (after Giovanni Pietro Bellori), London, 1721
