This is a drawing of a mythical battle scene among sea creatures. Two dominant figures stand amidst tumultuous waves. Each possesses the body of a human with strong, muscular features, but also the tail of a fish, characteristic of merfolk. One figure, on the left, is captured mid-action with a weapon raised above its head. The figure on the right holds a shield with a fierce expression, ready for defense as water splashes around them. To the right, another similar creature looks on. The scene is set against a backdrop of tall, waving reeds and a few birds can be seen flying above. The detailed linework creates a sense of movement and intensity within the composition.
Read the visual description

This is a drawing of a mythical battle scene among sea creatures. Two dominant figures stand amidst tumultuous waves. Each possesses the body of a human with strong, muscular features, but also the tail of a fish, characteristic of merfolk. One figure, on the left, is captured mid-action with a weapon raised above its head. The figure on the right holds a shield with a fierce expression, ready for defense as water splashes around them. To the right, another similar creature looks on. The scene is set against a backdrop of tall, waving reeds and a few birds can be seen flying above. The detailed linework creates a sense of movement and intensity within the composition.

National Gallery of Art · Print

Battling Tritons

Christian Wilhelm Ernst Dietrich

Date
1763
Medium
etching on wove paper
Dimensions
plate: 8.4 x 15 cm (3 5/16 x 5 7/8 in.) sheet: 9.7 x 16.2 cm (3 13/16 x 6 3/8 in.)
Classification
Print
Accession number
1997.132.1
Credit line
Gift of John O'Brien
Time span
1751 to 1775
Department
CG-E

Subjects and terms

  • etching
  • German
  • mythology
  • Triton
Provenance

John O'Brien, New Haven, CT; gift to NGA, 1997.

Inscription

lower right in plate: Dietri[ej]

NGA object ID 102482. Collection metadata is reproduced under CC0. This work is included because its NGA published-image record is marked open access; visitors should recheck the source record before substantial reuse.