ITALIAN, PROBABLY LATE 17TH CENTURY

NEPTUNE, GOD OF THE SEA AND ALL ITS INHABITANTS, IS DEPICTED HERE AS DESCRIBED IN VIRGIL'S AENEID, CALMING THE WATERS. IT IS PART OF THE STORY OF THE SACK OF TROY, FROM WHICH AENEAS FLED WITH A HANDFUL OF TROJANS AFTER ITS SACK BY THE GREEKS. THE GODDESS JUNO PURSUED AENEAS AS HE ATTEMPTED TO ESCAPE ACROSS THE SEA, AND CAUSED A GREAT STORM TO BE UNLEASHED, HOWEVER NEPTUNE INTERVENED. HE CALMED THE WATERS, THEREBY ALLOWING AENEAS TO REACH SAFETY.