Ornament Panel: Mars, God of Battles

c. 1507

Nicoletto da Modena

Associated Names
Nicoletto da Modena

Artist, Italian, active 1500/1512

This print shows an intricate symmetrical design featuring mythological figures, animals, and ornamental motifs. There is a central vertical axis around which various elements and figures are symmetrically arranged, and the page is entirely filled with designs. At the top, there is a seated figure holding two standards on either side of a Latin inscription, flanked by people with wings and others standing next to rearing horses. The middle section continues with similarly detailed adornments including classical motifs like vases, garlands, animal heads, and small cherubic figures. The lower section features what looks like a large fountain with three faces at the center, all arranged together. On either side of these faces, two people appear to be tied up. Above the faces are the letters N and R. In the bottom right and left corners, people with horns appear to ride strange dragon-like creatures with human faces.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    engraving

  • Credit Line

    Rosenwald Collection

  • Dimensions

    sheet (trimmed to plate mark): 26.2 x 12.9 cm (10 5/16 x 5 1/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1943.3.7414

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Hind 'Engravings', Vol. 5, p.136, no. 104, State iii


Artwork history & notes

Exhibition History

1973

  • Prints of the Italian Renaissance, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., 1973, no. 326.

Bibliography

1938

  • Hind, Arthur M. Early Italian Engraving; a critical catalogue with complete reproductions of all the prints described. 7 vols. London: Bernard Quaritch Ltd., 1938-1948.

1973

  • Levenson et al. 1973, no.173.

Watermarks

present but not identified

Wikidata ID

Q65024084

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