The Triumph of Neptune and Europa is inspired by a story in classical Greek mythology in which Zeus, king of the gods, becomes infatuated with the princess Europa. Variations of the myth recount that Zeus either sent a bull to seduce her or disguised himself as a bull to abduct her. The Florentine artist Antonio Montauti, trained as a medalist, constructed a dense composition in which Neptune, the Roman god of water, leads Zeus and Europa through a parade in supposed triumph. High- and low-relief surfaces direct focus toward the central figures of Neptune and Europa, who are rendered with near-sculptural three-dimensionality. In the eighteenth century, Florentine artists were renowned for their facility with bronze. Here, in addition to the figural reliefs, Montauti produced the elaborate bronze mounts on the wood frame. The maritime theme is emphasized by dolphins encircling the central cartouche and by the decorative elements at the top corners, which include seashells and draped ribbons. Though the cartouche is uninscribed, its inclusion and placement underscore the object’s prominence.
Executed between 1735 and 1740, The Triumph of Neptune and Europa may have been created for Pope Clement XII of the Corsini family. The lively and amorous depiction of mythological figures, including Tritons, Nereids, and Olympian deities, suggests that the relief was commissioned to celebrate a marriage in the pope’s family.
2024
