Neptune and Triton, Marble sculpture in Victoria and Albert Museum, England
Neptune and Triton is a marble sculpture depicting a water deity positioned above his younger family member. The composition features elaborate details, with the lower figure holding a wind instrument to its lips while positioned beneath the dominant form.
A church official commissioned a renowned sculptor in 1622 to create this work for a garden fountain in Rome. The sculpture later made its way to England, where it now resides in a major art museum.
The scene draws from Roman mythology and shows the relationship between a god and his son through their physical arrangement. When you look at it, the composition tells a story of command and communication through a musical instrument.
The work is located in a dedicated gallery space and is accessible through the museum's stairs and corridors. Plan extra time to view the surrounding artworks, as this collection has much to explore in the vicinity.
Internal lead tubes were discovered within the lower figure, revealing that the work originally functioned as a water fountain. These technical features are not visible from the outside today, but they explain an important aspect of its original purpose.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
