Gideon Chooses His Soldiers
1613
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1613
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Gideon Chooses His Soldiers is a 1613 ink by Antonio Tempesta, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This etching shows a chaotic battle scene with soldiers fighting in the background. In the foreground, a central figure in armor points at a smaller man kneeling by a shield. Around them, other soldiers and civilians react—some kneeling, others standing with weapons. The lines are sharp and busy, with lots of movement and detail in the clothing and weapons. The text below hints this is about choosing soldiers, likely a biblical story. The artist packed a lot into small spaces, making every figure feel active. Next, look up etching to see how artists like Tempesta made prints like this.
