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This is a drawing of an armored figure holding a sword amidst a scene of destruction. The figure is shown in a dynamic posture, surrounded by architectural ruins and a cloud of smoke or dust in the background. The style features sepia tones and intricate line work emphasizing the textures and details of the armor and cloak.
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This is a drawing of an armored figure holding a sword amidst a scene of destruction. The figure is shown in a dynamic posture, surrounded by architectural ruins and a cloud of smoke or dust in the background. The style features sepia tones and intricate line work emphasizing the textures and details of the armor and cloak.

National Gallery of Art · Drawing

Alexander Setting Fire to Persepolis

Bernhard Rode

Medium
pen and brown ink with brown wash over graphite on laid paper
Dimensions
overall: 24.5 x 18.7 cm (9 5/8 x 7 3/8 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Accession number
1988.4.1
Credit line
Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund
Time span
1701 to 1725
Department
CG-E
Original NGA record Wikidata

Subjects and terms

  • German
  • classical
  • secular
  • Alexander the Great
  • Persepolis
  • Burning
Provenance

Unidentified collector (S, not in Lugt); C.G. Matthes (Lugt 2871); (Eva Dencker-Winkler); purchased 1988 by NGA.

Inscription

lower right in brown ink: An die Könige / I 20.; by later hand, lower left verso in graphite: E Rode.; lower right verso in graphite: -TET-; vertical along right edge in graphite: COAA/NRR

Watermarks

partial fleur-de-lis

NGA object ID 70308. 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.