1592
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Cavalry Attack on a Walled Fortress is a 1592 ink by Antonio Tempesta, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This image is a black-and-white etching of a chaotic battle scene. Soldiers on horseback charge toward a walled fortress, swords raised. The fortress walls are crumbling, and people inside appear to be fleeing or fighting back. Clouds swirl above, and the whole scene feels dramatic and crowded. The artist used sharp lines and shading to create a sense of movement and tension. The horses and soldiers are detailed, but the fortress looks like it’s falling apart under the attack. This is an example of the technique: etching.
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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