Artwork
La Colère de Neptune (The Wrath of Neptune)
La Colère de Neptune (The Wrath of Neptune) is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Gabriel de Saint-Aubin. It dates from 1767 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Gabriel de Saint‑Aubin’s 1767 etching *La Colère de Neptune* depicts a tempestuous sea scene rendered in black and white.
About this work
Overview
Gabriel de Saint‑Aubin’s 1767 etching *La Colère de Neptune* depicts a tempestuous sea scene rendered in black and white. A powerful, angry figure stands atop a jagged rock, clutching a trident, while tumultuous waves surge around him. Below, a mixture of human and hybrid figures scramble in the water, conveying panic and disorder.
Subject & Meaning
The composition visualizes Neptune, the Roman deity of the oceans, in a moment of fury. The god’s muscular stance and clenched trident suggest a divine outburst, while the terrified figures—some with fish tails—represent mortals and sea‑creatures caught in the god’s wrathful storm, embodying the ancient belief in the sea’s capricious power.
Technique & Style
Executed as an etching on laid paper, Saint‑Aubin employs crisp, incised lines to delineate the churning water and the rugged rock. The contrast between deep black shadows and fine white highlights intensifies the sense of motion, while the intricate detailing of the smaller figures demonstrates the artist’s skill in rendering complex narratives within a single print.
History & Provenance
Created in 1767, the print belongs to the late‑Baroque period when French printmakers explored mythological subjects with heightened drama. Although specific ownership records are scarce, the work has been documented in several catalogues of Saint‑Aubin’s oeuvre, confirming its attribution and situating it within the artist’s broader engagement with etching as a medium.
Artist & collection
Artist
Gabriel de Saint-Aubin was a French draftsman, printmaker, etcher and painter.
Four Saints
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The Sacrifice of Abraham
The Sacrifice of Iphigenia
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The Sacrifice of Abraham
Law of War and Peace
The Prodigal Son Driven from the Tavern
The Martyrdom of Saint Thomas
Crowning with Thorns
Allegory of the Marriage of Emperor Ferdinand II and Eleanor Gonzaga
Allégorie des Ecoles gratuites du dessein (Allegory of the Free Drawing Schools)