Artwork
Battle of the Sea Gods [left half]
![Battle of the Sea Gods [left half], by Andrea Mantegna, ink, 1481](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/andrea-mantegna--battle-of-the-sea-gods-left-half--084dd803fb0016b2-w1024.webp)
Battle of the Sea Gods [left half] is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Andrea Mantegna. It dates from 1481 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:upper center in plate on tablet: INVID / (characters which Hind reads as XCIII); lower left verso in graphite, underlined: a23173; lower center verso illegible inscription in brown ink
About this work
Overview
This print, 'Battle of the Sea Gods [left half]', is an engraving on laid paper created by Andrea Mantegna in 1481. It showcases a dynamic scene of mythological figures in combat, rendered in sharp, detailed lines.
Subject & Meaning
The engraving depicts a chaotic underwater battle between muscular sea deities, some entwined in seaweed, others wielding weapons or gesturing wildly. A statue on a pedestal and a small boat are visible in the background, adding to the scene's complexity.
Technique & Style
Mantegna employed cross-hatching to create dark areas and texture, giving the figures a solid, sculptural presence. The use of sharp, angular lines and careful arrangement of the composition contribute to the work's monumentality and sense of dynamism.
History & Provenance
As a painter, printmaker, and son-in-law of Jacopo Bellini, Mantegna was a significant figure in Venice's early printmaking culture. Trained in Roman archaeology, he brought a rigorous application of perspective and sculptural treatment of form to his work.
![Battle of the Sea Gods [right half]](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/andrea-mantegna--battle-of-the-sea-gods-right-half--7515c85934d3d1e9-w320.webp)
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Andrea Mantegna (UK: US:; Italian:; c. 1431 – September 13, 1506) was an Italian Renaissance painter, a student of Roman archaeology, and the son-in-law of Jacopo Bellini. Like other artists of the time, Mantegna…
![Battle of the Sea Gods [left half], by Andrea Mantegna](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/andrea-mantegna--battle-of-the-sea-gods-left-half--2510247af42f8c24-w320.webp)
