Battle of Naked Men
1464
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
1464
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Battle of Naked Men is a 1464 ink by Mantegna School, a Renaissance work, depicting Battle, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows tight-packed men fighting with clubs and swords. Their bodies twist in an impossible tangle. Some hold shields that look like giant coins. Made in Italy in the 1460s, it’s rare because it doesn’t show a real battle. Instead the artist copied ancient Roman statues. The bodies look like marble come alive. Look for the way shadows are cut with fine lines. That’s cross-hatching. The National Gallery of Art, Washington has it on view.
