Neptune Sending a Deluge to Troy 1606

Editor: This is Antonio Tempesta's "Neptune Sending a Deluge to Troy," an early 17th-century engraving. It's so tiny, yet so dramatic! Neptune looks furious. What strikes you most about this piece? Curator: The sheer bravado of Tempesta! He crams so much action and watery chaos into such a small space. It's like a micro-opera of vengeance. Do you see how Neptune's pose mirrors the city's destruction? Editor: Yes! It’s like his anger *is* the flood. I'm also intrigued by the two-headed sea monster. Curator: Ah, yes, that's where Tempesta's imagination really takes flight. It reminds us that even divine wrath can be, well, a bit…extra. Editor: I see what you mean. It’s over-the-top in the best way. Thanks for that insight!