A Roman Triumph
1501 to 1550
Medium
pen and brown ink with brown and gray wash
Dimensions
overall: 30.1 x 53.7 cm (11 7/8 x 21 1/8 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Julius S. Held Collection
Accession Number
1985.1.62
Art Historical Context
Maarten de Vos’s *A Roman Triumph* captures the grandeur of an ancient Roman victory procession through the artist’s lively pen strokes and subtle washes. Created between 1501 and 1550, this drawing reflects the Renaissance fascination with classical antiquity, as Northern European artists like de Vos looked to Roman history for inspiration. The elongated composition, measuring just over 21 inches wide, suggests a panoramic view of soldiers, captives, and spoils moving in rhythmic procession, evoking both spectacle and order. Executed in pen and brown ink with brown and gray wash, the work hi...