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This is a drawing of an allegorical battle scene. The image portrays a battlefield filled with soldiers, musicians, and other characters engaged in various activities. A figure symbolizing victory flies through the sky on clouds in the upper center. In the background, military camps and formations of troops stretch across a hilly landscape. Banners, drums, and chariots add to the dynamic composition, while detailed line work emphasizes action and movement. Latin names label the figures in the scene.
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This is a drawing of an allegorical battle scene. The image portrays a battlefield filled with soldiers, musicians, and other characters engaged in various activities. A figure symbolizing victory flies through the sky on clouds in the upper center. In the background, military camps and formations of troops stretch across a hilly landscape. Banners, drums, and chariots add to the dynamic composition, while detailed line work emphasizes action and movement. Latin names label the figures in the scene.

National Gallery of Art · Print

Allegory of War

Hendrik Goltzius

Date
1578
Medium
engraving on laid paper
Dimensions
sheet: 19.9 × 36.4 cm (7 13/16 × 14 5/16 in.) (trimmed)
Classification
Print
Accession number
2012.92.550
Credit line
Gift of Ruth Cole Kainen
Time span
1551 to 1600
Department
CG-E
Original NGA record Wikidata
Provenance

Samuel Leith [1800-1857], Edinburgh (Lugt 1767). (Paul McCarron, New York); Ruth Kainen, Washington, D.C., purchased August 24, 1989; Gift to NGA, 2012.

Inscription

lettered in image, at lower center: Henric. Goltzius fecit. / Theodor. Galle excud; lettered in image, at top left: Impia quos ductet Mauros in bella maniplos, / Cùm bellona furens Martis agit atra iugales, / Picta tabella docet. Falcatum corpore currum / Mars premit, immani quatiens, hastilia dextra. / Exin Gorgoneis Alecto infecta venenis. / Vrget equos, torquens liquentia terga flagello. / Impetuosa nimis praecedunt agmina, et ipsa / Ipsa ATE pedibusque valens, et robore praestans / Atque gradu celeri, longè praeuertitur, omnes / Mortales laedens Pressura. / Turbine saeuo / subsequitur Pacis contemptus, fraude latentes / Insidiae, et nimium scelerata libido nocendi. / Pone sequebantur tetri de faucibus Orci / Orta laboriferae contagia feruida Pestis. / Proxima laethifero vitantia cuncta veneno.; on verso, in graphite: ak / d. (?) / Leith / June 17 / 1842; 13430.

NGA object ID 153962. 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.