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The Sacrifice of Iphigenia

Nicolas Beatrizet

1540

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance Allegory

Dominant colour

The Sacrifice of Iphigenia is a 1540 ink by Nicolas Beatrizet, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Nicolas Beatrizet
When & what style?: 1540 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This print shows a wild scene with lots of people and animals. A woman sits on the ground, holding a child. Around her, men struggle—one is lifting a sword, another is pulling a goat. A winged figure floats above, and a building burns in the background. The whole thing looks dramatic, like a story unfolding fast. The name "Iphigenia" is carved on a pedestal in the middle. That’s a clue this is about a myth where a girl is sacrificed. The artist signed it at the bottom, but the details are small and hard to read. Want to know more? Check out etching to see how artists like this made prints.