Ewer with Triumph of Galatea

c. 1700

Ewer with Triumph of Galatea, c. 1700. Massimiliano Soldani (Italian, 1656–1740). Bronze; overall: 81.5 x 35.5 x 26.5 cm (32 1/16 x 14 x 10 7/16 in.); base: 8.9 x 25.9 x 26.5 cm (3 1/2 x 10 3/16 x 10 7/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund 1975.112 Upon discovering the sea nymph Galatea's infidelity, her betrothed, the Cyclops Polyphemus, pulverizes her lover Acis with a rock. In grief, Galatea turns his blood into a river and Acis becomes god of that river, which bears his name. Here Galatea escorts a swarm of sea creatures in celebration of Acis's apotheosis.