1599
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Aetas Ferrea (The Iron Age) is a 1599 ink by Antonio Tempesta, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This black-and-white print shows a chaotic battle scene packed with people, animals, and buildings. Soldiers on horseback fight in the foreground while smoke rises from burning structures in the background. The sky is full of swirling storm clouds, and the ground is littered with fallen figures and weapons. The artist used sharp lines to create drama, making the scene feel crowded and intense. The title *Aetas Ferrea* (The Iron Age) hints this might be about a mythical time of violence. Look up etching to see how this technique works.
Antonio Tempesta, also called il Tempestino (1555 – 5 August 1630), was an Italian painter and engraver, whose art acted as a point of connection between Baroque Rome and the culture of Antwerp.
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