Aby Warburg
Mnemosyne Atlas

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Mnemosyne Atlas 61-64


Neptune: servitude and command of the Seas

Neptune lends himself as a ‘servant god’ for allegorical ceremonies in different contexts (the Maritime Republics; modern Nation States; feasts in the royal courts). He is also the image from which the expressive formula of pathos for ‘abduction’ emerges in Baroque art. As an ancient god, Neptune still preserves his daemonic and magical aspect: he is the tutelary deity to worship to appease stormy seas and so conquer new dominions (in accordance with Vergil’s motto ‘Quos ego tandem’).

Notes by Aby Warburg (1929)

Neptun

Neptune.

Notes by Aby Warburg and coll. (1929)

Neptun als dienender “servierender Gott“. Quos ego. “Vergil".

Neptune as subservient ‘god servant’. Quos ego tandem. ‘Virgil’.

Notes by Gertrud Bing (ca. 1940)

Ich glaube, daß dies etwas werden sollte wie: Neptun’s Reich (cf. “Reich der Venus” im Quattrocento). Anknüpfend an “Quos ego”. Oder auch: Neptun + sein Gefolge. Einfallen tut mir aber nur etwas zum Bild von Frans Francken: Der Höhepunkt der “Servilität” des Neptun, daß er selbst mit Gefolge in den Thronsaal hineingeschwommen kommt = d.h. die Distanz der Metapher ist völlig verloren gegangen. Hier ist natürlich eine große Lücke. Ende des 16. Anfang 17. Jahrhunderts. Die Valois + Habsburger Machtpolitik. Höhepunkt des höfischen Lebens.

I think this [Panel] should become something like “The Realm of Neptune” (cf. “The Realm of Venus” in the fifteenthh century). Link to “Quos ego”. Or also: Neptune + his entourage. However, I can only think of something that relates to Frans Francken’s painting: the culmination of Neptune’s “servitude” as he and his retinue swimming into the throne room = i.e. the distance of the metaphor has been completely lost.  There is, of course, a large gap here. Late sixteenth century, early seventeenth century. The politics of power of the Valois + Habsburgs. Highest moment of court life.

Further Readings

L. Robertson, Panel 61-64, Guided Pathways, in Mnemosyne. Meanderings through Aby Warburg's Atlas warburg.library.cornell.edu, Cornell University, 2013.

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  • Atlas plates 1929: ©The Warburg Institute Archive
  • english version: Elizabeth E. Thomson
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