Battle between a Centaur and a Triton

c. 1620-1640

Circle of Jusepe de Ribera

Associated Names
Jusepe de Ribera

Artist, Spanish, 1591 - 1652

This is a drawing of mythical creatures engaged in a battle. The scene depicts a struggle involving a centaur and two mermen. The centaur is rearing up with legs poised, one merman stands with his fish tail visible, and the other is engaged in a grappling match. Each creature brandishes a club, showcasing movement and conflict. The background features swirling clouds, horizon lines, and the outline of a landscape or rocky coast. The artist uses fine lines and shading to enhance muscle definition and texture of the creatures' bodies, emphasizing their mythical and powerful nature.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    etching on laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund

  • Dimensions

    sheet (cut to platemark): 11.5 x 16.6 cm (4 1/2 x 6 9/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2000.12.1

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Brown 1973, no. 19, State (rejected attribution)

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Sir Peter Lely [1618-1680], London (Lugt 2092). A. Hyatt Mayor, New York, 1901 - 1980. (Jan Johnson, Montreal); purchased 1999 by NGA.

Associated Names

Bibliography

1973

  • Brown, Jonathan. Jusepe de Ribera: Prints and Drawings. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1973.

Inscriptions

by later hand, lower right in ink: A 79; by later hand, lower center verso in graphite: Ribera B XX 83 11; by later hand, lower right verso in graphite: R6066

Markings

Sir Peter Lely (Lugt 2092)

Watermarks

fleur-de-lis with hills in circle surmounted with V (similar to Heawood 1625, Rome 1693) not in Picc

Wikidata ID

Q75426474

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