
Read the visual description
This is a drawing of mythical creatures engaged in a battle. The scene depicts a struggle involving a centaur and two mermen. The centaur is rearing up with legs poised, one merman stands with his fish tail visible, and the other is engaged in a grappling match. Each creature brandishes a club, showcasing movement and conflict. The background features swirling clouds, horizon lines, and the outline of a landscape or rocky coast. The artist uses fine lines and shading to enhance muscle definition and texture of the creatures' bodies, emphasizing their mythical and powerful nature.
National Gallery of Art · Print
Battle between a Centaur and a Triton
Circle of Jusepe de Ribera
- Date
- c. 1620-1640
- Medium
- etching on laid paper
- Dimensions
- sheet (cut to platemark): 11.5 x 16.6 cm (4 1/2 x 6 9/16 in.)
- Classification
- Accession number
- 2000.12.1
- Credit line
- Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund
- Time span
- 1601 to 1650
- Department
- CG-E
Subjects and terms
- etching
- Spanish
- classical
- mythology
- Fight
Provenance
Sir Peter Lely [1618-1680], London (Lugt 2092). A. Hyatt Mayor, New York, 1901 - 1980. (Jan Johnson, Montreal); purchased 1999 by NGA.
Inscription
by later hand, lower right in ink: A 79; by later hand, lower center verso in graphite: Ribera B XX 83 11; by later hand, lower right verso in graphite: R6066
Marks
Sir Peter Lely (Lugt 2092)
Watermarks
fleur-de-lis with hills in circle surmounted with V (similar to Heawood 1625, Rome 1693) not in Picc
NGA object ID 110858. 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.