A Roman Legion

Marco Dente

1521

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance Allegory

About this work

This black-and-white print shows a big crowd of soldiers. Some wear armor and carry shields. Others hold tall poles with circles on them. A few men in the middle look different—they’re not in armor. The background has plants and fancy decorations. The artist packed a lot into this small space. Every face and object tells a story, but it’s not just a battle scene. The soldiers might stand for something bigger. Want to see how this style works? Check out engraving.