Plate 5: Neptune standing in a niche holding a trident, with a hippocampus (sea-horse) behind him, from a series of gods and goddesses 1526

Curator: It strikes me as intensely… reserved, despite Neptune's lack of attire. It's like the ocean's depths hold more secrets than wild abandon. Editor: We're looking at "Plate 5: Neptune standing in a niche holding a trident, with a hippocampus (sea-horse) behind him," an engraving by Giovanni Jacopo Caraglio from 1526. The medium is fascinating—an engraving, allowing for a precise and reproducible image, indicative of print culture emerging during that era. Curator: It feels like the kind of image someone would keep tucked away, like a forbidden peek into mythology. Look at how crisply he’s rendered. The crispest Neptune I ever did see. Does that make sense? Editor: Absolutely. The engraving allows for this level of detail. I think this kind of production served specific societal functions at the time. Engravings, circulating through print shops, brought these classical images to a wider, more diverse audience than exclusive paintings might have. This one is at the Met right now. Curator: Making the god… slightly less godly, and a tad more democratic. Almost relatable. See how his eyes avert the viewer's gaze? A subtle acknowledgement of the very real people who are purchasing the engravings! And is that seahorse supposed to look slightly silly? Editor: Perhaps Caraglio aimed for approachability. You have to think about labor here, too—the hours, the meticulous work on the copperplate. The finished product becomes a commodity, a representation of mythological power transformed into a tangible object, purchased and displayed, or even traded. What becomes of Neptune's power, exactly? Is he truly democratized? Curator: Oh, I love that you’re thinking about value that way. Well, it depends on who you ask, I imagine. I can feel that tension radiating from him. Thank you so much. Editor: Thank you. That was a fascinating glimpse into Caraglio's creation. The confluence of technique, social function, and mythology—quite something.