
Read the visual description
This is a drawing of an ancient battle scene. It depicts numerous nude male figures engaged in hand-to-hand combat in a forested environment. The men are wielding swords and shields, and their bodies are contorted with the tension of the battle. The detailed musculature and expressive poses capture the movement of the scene. The background features dense vegetation with twisted trees and thick foliage. The composition includes overlapping figures creating a sense of chaos and urgency. The style of the drawing has influences from the Renaissance period, focusing on anatomy and dramatic expression.
National Gallery of Art · Print
Battle of the Nudes
Antonio del Pollaiuolo
- Date
- 1470/1475
- Medium
- engraving on laid paper
- Dimensions
- sheet: 42.8 x 61.8 cm (16 7/8 x 24 5/16 in.)
- Classification
- Accession number
- 1941.1.16
- Credit line
- Gift of W.G. Russell Allen
- Time span
- 1401 to 1500
- Department
- CG-E
Subjects and terms
- Italian
- Death
- Battle
- Forest
- Sword
- Male nude
- Shield
- Warriors
Provenance
W.G. Russell Allen [1882-1955], Boston; gift to NGA, 1941.
NGA object ID 594. 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.