Neptune and Sea-Monster with Shell

This bronze sculpture depicts Neptune (Poseidon in Greek mythology) battling a ferocious sea monster. It was probably designed as a desk accessory that would hold a quill pen in the monster’s mouth, and the seashell could have been used either to hold ink, or sand for blotting.

Few signed works by Severo are known, one, a bronze Sea-Monster with a Shell on its Tail is in The Frick Collection, in New York. Sea monsters were a favorite theme of the artist who was known also as "The Master of the Dragons."