Monumental Bronze Neptune from Lyon on Display in Rome
Rome, February 6 – The Giovanni Barracco Museum of Ancient Sculpture in Rome is currently hosting a significant exhibition featuring the large bronze statue of Neptune from ancient Lugdunum, modern-day Lyon. The artwork, on loan from the Lugdunum-Musée et Théâtres romains, is presented for the first time in Rome as part of an international exchange program.
The exhibition, running from February 6 to June 7, 2026, showcases the statue in the museum’s recently renovated ground-floor hall, now dedicated to high-profile temporary exhibitions.
Discovery and Significance of the Neptune Statue
Discovered in 1859 in the Rhône River, the statue represents the largest bronze depiction of Neptune found in France. It is considered one of the most important surviving examples of bronze statuary of deities from Roman Gaul. Dating back to the 3rd century AD, the sculpture was crafted by a local workshop and portrays the god of the sea and water as he emerges from the waves. His identification is confirmed by the arrangement of his hair, which evokes the effect of being wet.
The iconography of the statue references Greek models, particularly the figure of Poseidon. Experts suggest that the statue originally held a trident, the primary attribute of the deity, in its left hand, and possibly a dolphin in its right hand. The monumental location of the artwork was likely a temple in Lugdunum, the capital of the province of Gallia Lugdunensis and a significant political and administrative center within Roman Gaul.
International Exchange and Museum Renovation
The arrival of the Neptune statue at the Barracco Museum is part of an agreement for the exchange of ancient artworks between the Roman institution and the Lugdunum-Musée et Théâtres romains. This initiative is promoted by Roma Capitale, the Department of Culture and Coordination of Initiatives related to Remembrance Day, and the Capitoline Superintendence for Cultural Heritage, in collaboration with the Métropole Grand Lyon. The agreement was finalized to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Lyon museum. Concurrently, several masterpieces from the Barracco Museum are being exhibited in Lyon as part of the ongoing exhibition “C’est canon. L’art chez les Romains.”
The Neptune exhibition is also integral to the ongoing renovation process at the Giovanni Barracco Museum of Ancient Sculpture. Recent adaptations have modernized both the exhibition areas and public services. The ground-floor hall has been reconfigured into a dedicated space for high-level temporary exhibitions, and a new reception area has been designed to improve visitor flow management. The museum has also been equipped with new didactic panels and internal and external signage, enhancing the clarity and accessibility of the exhibition route.
Source: finestresullarte.info
