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This is a drawing of a group of warriors in combat amidst a forest setting. The drawing depicts a tumultuous scene where numerous figures are engaged in a battle, wielding weapons. The setting is dense with stylized plant forms and trees. The figures are rendered in a highly detailed manner, displaying muscular anatomy and expressive poses that convey motion. The atmosphere is intense and chaotic, emphasizing the ferocity of the confrontation.
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This is a drawing of a group of warriors in combat amidst a forest setting. The drawing depicts a tumultuous scene where numerous figures are engaged in a battle, wielding weapons. The setting is dense with stylized plant forms and trees. The figures are rendered in a highly detailed manner, displaying muscular anatomy and expressive poses that convey motion. The atmosphere is intense and chaotic, emphasizing the ferocity of the confrontation.

National Gallery of Art · Print

Battle of the Nudes

Antonio del Pollaiuolo

Date
c. 1470/1475
Medium
engraving with extensive retouching in pen and ink on two joined sheets of laid paper
Dimensions
overall (two joined sheets): 40 × 61 cm (15 3/4 × 24 in.)
Classification
Print
Accession number
1980.45.1161
Credit line
Rosenwald Collection
Time span
1401 to 1500
Department
CG-E
Original NGA record Wikidata

Subjects and terms

  • Italian
  • plant
  • Battle
  • Sword
  • Shield
  • Figures
Provenance

George Smith, London; (his sale, Sotheby and Wilkinson, London, 11 March 1861, lot 1058); (Colnaghi and Obach, London); purchased by William Gott [1797-1863], Leeds; by descent to his son, Reverend John Gott [1830-1906], Leeds; (his sale, Christies, London, 26 Feb 1913, lot 40); (Colnaghi and Obach, London); (Frederick Keppel, New York, 1913); purchased 1914 by Paul J. Sachs [1878-1965, Cambridge, MA; purchased 1938 by Lessing J. Rosenwald [1891-1979], Jenkintown, PA; gift to the NGA, 1980.

NGA object ID 58875. 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.