Ceiling Design with Neptune in Corner 1600 - 1700

This ceiling design with Neptune in the corner was created by an anonymous artist, and rendered in pen and brown ink with watercolor. It depicts an elaborate, theatrical vision of power and mythology that was prevalent during the baroque era, which often served the purpose of displaying the wealth and status of the patron. The corner with Neptune becomes a stage for the spectacle of divine authority. Neptune, the god of the sea, is surrounded by cherubs and ornamental flourishes, reflecting a culture deeply entrenched in classical mythology and its use as a tool of cultural capital. The drawing, with its intricate detailing and grandiose scale, invites us to imagine the lived experience of those who occupied such spaces. This kind of artwork shapes societal norms through idealized representations of power, and also touches on the personal dimensions of ambition and aspiration.