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Equitum, in Quirinali, aversa parte

Italian 16th Century

1550

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance Mythology

Dominant colour

Equitum, in Quirinali, aversa parte is a 1550 ink by Italian 16th Century, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Italian 16th Century
When & what style?: 1550 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This engraving shows two giant statues of men standing on brick pedestals, each holding a horse that’s also the size of a building. The horses are perched like they’re part of the statues, with one wearing a saddle. Below, two smaller figures—one standing, one kneeling—look up at the scene. The background has a distant landscape with a few trees and a small building. The tiny text at the bottom hints this is a Renaissance work, likely inspired by ancient myths. The artist used fine lines to create shadows and depth, making the figures look three-dimensional. Next, check out technique: engraving to see how artists like this carved intricate details into metal plates.