Neptune and Triton (Bernini) - Naturalism

Naturalism

The naturalism of the figures suggests the artist’s intention to elicit an immediate emotional response to the viewer. Neptune’s furrowed brow gives a sense of his fierce strength. His stance is set in stone, solidifying his divine power. In contrast, Triton looks somewhat submissive while he is grabbing Neptune’s thigh. His face looks to be full of anxiety as if he knows that he should obey whatever Neptune commands him to do. His timid nature and Neptune’s dominate presence display the reality of human emotion and brings back the point of Bernini’s plan to convey myths coming to life.

Bernini gave the audience the chance to “see” these gods in person; in movement. This was Bernini’s first sculpture to “ …work where the silhouette is broken, where the climax of a transitory action is given and where the action extends beyond the physical limits.” The point of the sculpture is bring to face a myth or story to be true and real by its dramatic tension in the body positions and subtle hints at natural life. He was making the myths, rumors and stories an opportunity to be true and demand its viewer to believe in its truth.