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The Death of Meleager

Nicolas Beatrizet

1543

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance

Dominant colour

The Death of Meleager is a 1543 ink by Nicolas Beatrizet, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Nicolas Beatrizet
When & what style?: 1543 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This engraving shows a chaotic scene of tangled bodies—some muscular, some limp—wrestling in the air and on the ground. Muscles bulge, limbs twist, and faces twist in pain or effort. At the center, one figure lies half-dead, surrounded by others who seem to be fighting or mourning. Above them, clouds swirl with more figures, some holding weapons or looking down. The artist packed every inch with dramatic movement, using sharp lines to show struggle. The mix of action and emotion feels raw, like a story unfolding in real time. Next, look up the technique: engraving to see how artists like this carved images into metal.