Neptune 

Etienne Delaune made this print of Neptune in France sometime in the mid-16th century. The god of the sea stands in the center of an ornamental setting, flanked by hanging fish. Delaune was a goldsmith, medalist, and printmaker, who worked for royal and aristocratic patrons. This engraving reflects the refinement and classical interests of the French court during the Renaissance. Prints like this circulated widely, helping to disseminate artistic styles and ideas. The stylized rendering of Neptune and the elaborate decorative framework draw on classical sources, updated with a distinctly French sensibility. By studying prints and other decorative arts, we can learn about the tastes, values, and social networks of the time. Examining inventories, letters, and other archival documents can reveal how such images functioned in people's lives. The meaning of art is always shaped by its historical context, and the historian's role is to uncover these layers of meaning.