Liggende Neptunus c. 1506 - 1538

"Liggende Neptunus" is a small-scale woodcut by Albrecht Altdorfer, a prominent figure in the German Renaissance, created around 1506-1538. The print depicts the Roman god Neptune, reclining and holding a trident. The god is depicted lying on a sea serpent, a classical attribute of the ocean god. The composition is notable for its dynamic lines, intricate detail, and shadowing that gives depth and movement to the figure. Altdorfer's mastery of the woodcut technique is evident in the masterful rendition of Neptune's musculature and the textured scales of the serpent.