Battle of the Sea Gods (right half) by Andrea Mantegna

Battle of the Sea Gods (right half) c. 1470s

print, engraving

ink drawing

pen drawing

print

pen sketch

personal sketchbook

ink drawing experimentation

pen-ink sketch

pen work

sketchbook drawing

sketchbook art

engraving

fantasy sketch

Andrea Mantegna's "Battle of the Sea Gods (right half)" is a 15th-century pen and ink drawing depicting a scene of intense struggle between sea deities. The right half of the larger composition showcases a dramatic and intricate entanglement of figures, highlighting the artist's masterful use of line and detail. Mantegna's distinctive style, influenced by Classical art, is evident in the muscular forms and meticulous rendering, creating a dynamic and powerful image. This work, a testament to the artist's technical prowess and artistic vision, reveals the influence of Mantegna on the development of Renaissance art in Italy.

Comments

minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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According to the sign held by the crone at the upper left, envy has led to discord among the sea gods. When satyrs on seahorses square off, it's fish versus baton, while the nymph-bearing sea-centaurs adopt bonier weapons. This print was the largest engraving ever produced at the time it was made—so large that the image had to be engraved on two separate plates. It so perfectly embodied Renaissance understanding of antiquity that the sculptures based on its design were thought to be genuinely ancient.