print
- Museum number
- 1927,0614.96
- Description
-
Battle of the Nudes, after Antonio Pollaiuolo; ten naked men fighting, holding swords, axes and daggers; two men in the centre competing for a chain and the man on the left is firing an arrow. c.1500
Woodcut
- Production date
- 1500 (circa)
- Dimensions
-
Height: 400 millimetres
-
Width: 577 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- This woodcut is a copy with the same orientation - and of nearly the same scale - of the famous engraving by Pollaiuolo of 'The Battle of the Nudes' (BM, P&D 1.V.33). However, Lucantonio reproduces the figures against a background which is blank except for the horizon line. The BM possesses another, more faithful woodcut copy of the 'Battle' by the German master Johannes de Francfordia (P&D 1845-8-25-587). Both seem to reproduce the first state of the engraving, retaining the unshadowed inner thigh of the man wielding an axe at the far right. For a discussion of the various copies after Pollaiuolo's print see S.R. Langdale, exh. cat., The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, 'Battle of the Nudes. Pollaiuolo's Renaissance Masterpiece', 2002.
The present woodcut may have been printed from two blocks on two separate sheets and joined at centre.
Some words of the inscription, such as the initial 'M' and 'STRAGVA' are difficult to explain, while the word 'INPLESA' may be in error for 'impreso' (meaning printed).
For a discussion of Lucantonio's oeuvre see Hind D.III.4 (P&D 1846-5-9-12).
For further information and bibliography see the entry by Laura Aldovini on the online catalogue 'Atlante delle xilografie italiane del Rinascimento', ALU.0120.1.
- Location
- Not on display
- Exhibition history
-
2002 Aug-Oct, Cleveland Mus of Art, A Print in Focus: Antonio Pollaiuolo's Battle of the Nudes, no. 6.
- Acquisition date
- 1927
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1927,0614.96
