Allegorical Theme: Combat of Animals
Master of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist
1518
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Master of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist
1518
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Allegorical Theme: Combat of Animals is a 1518 ink by Master of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This black-and-white print shows a chaotic battle between animals—a lion, a goat, and a wolf—while a muscular man with a wreath stands nearby, holding a round shield with a sunburst. In the background, a crumbling building and a small town sit on a hill, with a river winding through the scene. The man’s face is calm, but the animals look fierce, tangled in the foreground. The artist used sharp lines and shading to create depth, making the animals look wild and the man’s muscles stand out. The scene feels dramatic, like a story unfolding in a single moment. If you like this style, look up engraving to see how artists carve images into metal.
