Neptune was the Roman god that ruled over rivers and springs. As he was identified with the Greek Poseidon, he was also given charge of the salt water in the seas. Neptune is recognised by his tripod. If it were not for that, Neptune’s powerful body and full beard could be reminiscent of his brother, Jupiter. If Neptune grew angry, he could whip up the sea with his tripod. So sailors had the greatest respect for this ruler of the ocean. Thorvaldsen never either drew or modelled Neptune. He never received commissions for sculptures for springs or fountains, which are the usual places where statues of Neptune are found. There is also a seahorse in Giovanni Jacopo Caraglio’s print after Rosso Fiorentino (1494-1540). This is an imaginary creature with a horse’s body at the front and a fish’s tail at the back. When Neptune crossed the seas, he was drawn by seahorses.
