Pendant Design with a Sea Monster Carrying Neptune Flanked by Two Figures with Horns 1582

Adriaen Collaert designed this pendant with a sea monster carrying Neptune, flanked by two horned figures, in the late 16th or early 17th century. During this period, the cultural fascination with classical antiquity flourished, influencing art and fashion. Collaert’s engraving is an expression of power and status. Neptune, the Roman god of the sea, dominates the composition, symbolizing maritime strength and control. This idealized male form on a fantastical creature, caters to a patron interested in projecting authority and virility. The pendant design reflects a society where the display of wealth was a marker of social standing. Consider the emotional impact this piece might have had on its wearer and viewers, reinforcing societal hierarchies and celebrating a specific vision of masculinity and dominance. How does this ornamental design uphold or subvert the narratives of its time?