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A Battle on Horseback

Domenico Campagnola

1514

chalk

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance History Painting Battle

Dominant colour

A Battle on Horseback is a 1514 chalk by Domenico Campagnola, a Renaissance work, depicting Battle, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Domenico Campagnola
When & what style?: 1514 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

Domenico Campagnola’s *A Battle on Horseback* shows two armored knights clashing on rearing horses. Their swords flash as armor glints in the ink. This isn’t a real fight—it’s a sketch for a bigger painting. Campagnola used quick strokes to suggest motion, not fine detail. The brown wash adds depth without fuss. Look closer at the horse on the right—its muscles bunch under the rider’s weight. See how the ink bleeds where Campagnola changed his mind? Find more of Campagnola, Domenico’s work at the National Gallery of Art, Washington.