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Battle Between Romans and Barbarians

Marco Antonio Bassetti

Basic information

ID: Ж-3198
Author: Marco Antonio Bassetti
Name: Battle Between Romans and Barbarians
Date of creation: c.1605–1616
Technique: grisaille
Material: paper on wood panel oil
Dimensions (height x width, cm): 24.5 x 61

Additionally

Type: painting
Genre: battle painting
Plot: Battle
Provenance: the Lubomirski collection
Exposition: Potocki Palace

Information about author

Author: Marco Antonio Bassetti
Artist's lifetime: 1558–1630
Country: Italy
Biography: Marco Antonio Bassetti (1558–1630) began his career in Verona. Around 1605, the artist moved to Venice, where he became familiar with the works of Tintoretto and worked as an assistant to Palma il Giovane. The expressive style of this artist had a significant influence on shaping Bassetti's artistic style. In 1616, Marco Antonio settled in Rome and became a follower of Caravaggism. He worked with Carlo Saraceni and Alessandro Turchi. In the 1620s, the artist returned to Verona, where he spent the rest of his life working on monumental altarpieces and portraits. Today, most of his works are preserved in a museum in Verona.

Object description

The painting "Battle Between Romans and Barbarians" was initially attributed to an unknown artist when the Gallery received it. Later, it was attributed to Polidoro da Caravaggio. However, the authorship was eventually established to be that of Marco Antonio Bassetti based on analogies in his Royal Collection of Windsor sketches. Such monochrome compositions on ancient history and mythology themes, executed in oil on paper, were not merely preparatory sketches – contemporaries interpreted them as independent works. Bassetti primarily painted such pictures during the winter, and they were popular among foreigners travelling to Verona. The "Battle Between Romans and Barbarians" artwork was created using the grisaille technique, common in the late sixteenth-century Venetian School. The painting depicts a large group of warriors during the battle. The foreground portrays duels, while the centre showcases four camps. In the background, there are warriors with spears. Using colour and shading creates an effect of relief painting in an ancient style.

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Battle Between Romans and Barbarians

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