Neptune Calming the Tempest Raised Against the Fleet of Aeneas 1510 - 1576

Giulio Bonasone's "Neptune Calming the Tempest Raised Against the Fleet of Aeneas" (1510-1576) is a dramatic engraving depicting the Roman god Neptune calming a storm against Aeneas' fleet. The print, held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, showcases the power of Neptune as he rides a seahorse and restrains the tempestuous waves with his trident. The scene's intensity is heightened by the swirling clouds and the figures struggling for survival amidst the churning sea, highlighting the vulnerability of humans against the forces of nature. This artwork exemplifies the Renaissance interest in classical mythology and its enduring power in the face of adversity.