nude men engaged in hand-to-hand combat, many with shields, arrows, clubs, daggers, etc.; men standing to fight in rear with others crouching and on ground in front row

Battle of Eighteen Nude Men, c. 1528

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Battle friezes were opportunities to show off an artist’s anatomical skill. This one was inspired by reliefs on ancient sarcophagi, or stone coffins. At times, a single pose is cleverly rendered from front and back, like the tilted pair near the right. The flat background indicates the image may have been intended as armor decoration.

Details
Title
Battle of Eighteen Nude Men
Artist Life
1502–1540
Role
Artist
Accession Number
2015.93.36
Provenance
[P. & D. Colnaghi, London.] Accessioned by Cleveland Museum of Art in 1957('), sold as duplicate on June 12, 1980. John E. Andrus III, Wayzata, Minn.; by descent to his daughters, Elizabeth, Katie, and Julie; gave to MIA, 2015. Earlier provenances have been gathered, but further research will increase our knowledge of their histories.
Catalogue Raisonne
Pauli, Hollstein 25; Bartsch 16 (vol. 8, p. 90)
Curator Approved

This record is from historic documentation and may not have been reviewed by a curator, so may be inaccurate or incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.

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nude men engaged in hand-to-hand combat, many with shields, arrows, clubs, daggers, etc.; men standing to fight in rear with others crouching and on ground in front row