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.
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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
Print
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.