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The battle of the sea gods

Drawing
ca. 1470-1480 (drawn)
Artist/Maker
Mantegna, Andrea (artist)

Andrea Mantegna completed the double-sheet engraving The battle of the sea gods shortly after his famous Bacchanalian scenes, perhaps as a riposte to Pollaiuolo's famous print The battle of nude men. This drawing is a skillful and meticulous copy of the left-hand section of the original frieze-like composition. It is so close in spirit and technique to the original that it seems likely it is the work of an artist belonging to Mantegna's close inner circle, perhaps an assistant in the master's workshop.

Object details

Category
Drawings
Object type
Drawing
Titles
  • The battle of the sea gods
  • Combat between sea gods and tritons
  • Envy inciting the marine gods to fight
Materials and techniques
Pen and ink drawing
Pen
Pen and Ink
Drawn
Brief description
Copy after Andrea Mantegna, drawing of battle between nude mounted warriors
Physical description
Three principal figures, mounted on a dragon and horses, fighting in the sea.
Dimensions
  • Height: 28.6cm
  • Width: 41.8cm
Style
Italian
Marks and inscriptions
Collector's mark of Pierre Crozat (Lugt 474)
Gallery label
Copy after Andrea Mantegna About 1431-1506
The Battle of the Sea Gods
About 1470-80

This drawing is a skilful and meticulous copy of the left-hand section of an original double-sheet engraving which Mantegna made as a riposte to Pollaiuolo’s frieze-like Battle of Nude Men (right). Close in spirit and technique to Mantegna’s original, it is probably by an artist from his inner circle, perhaps a workshop assistant. [53 words]

Pen and ink
With the collector’s mark of Pierre Crozat (1661-1740)
Bought by Ionides before 1881 for £100
Museum no. CAI 406
Credit line
Bequeathed by Constantine Alexander Ionides
Object history
Bequeathed in 1900 by C.A. Ionides
Subjects depicted
Dragon
Horse
Battle
Sea-Gods
Summary
Andrea Mantegna completed the double-sheet engraving The battle of the sea gods shortly after his famous Bacchanalian scenes, perhaps as a riposte to Pollaiuolo's famous print The battle of nude men. This drawing is a skillful and meticulous copy of the left-hand section of the original frieze-like composition. It is so close in spirit and technique to the original that it seems likely it is the work of an artist belonging to Mantegna's close inner circle, perhaps an assistant in the master's workshop.
Associated objects
Bibliographic references
  • Lambert, Susan. Drawing: Technique & Purpose. London: Victoria & Albert Museum, 1981. p.26.
  • Ward-Jackson, Peter, Italian Drawings. Volume I. 14th-16th century, London, 1979, p. 19 The following is the full text of the entry: copy after MANTEGNA, ANDREA 13 Envy inciting the marine gods to fight Pen and ink 11 1/8 x 16 1/2 (283 x 420) CAI.406 PROVENANCE Unidentified mark C (Lugt 474); Ionides Bequest 1900 (Lugt 488) LITERATURE Ionides Catalogue, p. 12 (attributed to Mantegna) After the engraving by Mantegna (Bartsch 13, no. 18): an unusually accurate and sensitively drawn copy, of exactly the same size as the original, probably contemporary. The copyist follows the original line by line, except in the hatching, where his lines are finer and closer together. Another similar drawing connected with the same engraving, less finely shaded, is at Chatsworth and is believed by some authorities to be Mantegna's design for the engraving (reproduced in E. Tietze-Conrat, Mantegna, 1955, pl. 99; q.v. for bibliography). Compare also the fine early copy after the two figures on the left of the engraving in the Musée Bonnat, Bayonne (Bean, Bayonne Catalogue, no. 64).
Collection
Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number
CAI.406

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Record createdMarch 26, 2008
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O148265/the-battle-of-the-sea-drawing-mantegna-andrea/
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