Battle of the Sea Gods [left half]

Andrea Mantegna

1481

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance History Painting

About this work

This black-and-white print shows a wild fight between muscular figures in the water. Some are tangled in seaweed, others hold weapons or wave their arms. In the background, a statue stands on a pedestal, and a small boat floats nearby. The lines are sharp and detailed, with lots of shadows and texture. Notice how the artist used fine lines to build up dark areas—this is called cross-hatching. The scene looks chaotic but is carefully arranged. Want to see more like this? Try looking up engraving.