Bellona Leading the Imperial Armies
Medium
Engraving on two sheets of ivory laid paper
Dimensions
Upper sheet:: 35 × 50.5 cm (13 13/16 × 19 15/16 in.); lower sheet:: 35.4 × 50.5 cm (13 15/16 × 19 15/16 in.)
Classification
engraving
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
268826
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
**Bellona Leading the Imperialies** is a striking engraving created by Dutch artist Jan Harmensz Muller in 1600. Printed on two large sheets of ivory laid papermeasuring about 35 × 50.5 cm each—this monumental work from the Art Institute of Chicago's Prints Drawings collection exemplifies the technical prowess of early modern printmaking. Muller, a master engraver from the Haarlem school influenced by Mannerism, was renowned for his intricate line work and reproductive prints after designs by leading painters like Hendrick Goltzius. The title features Bellona, the Roman goddess of war, dynamically leading imperial armies into battle, capturing the era's fascination with classical mythology and martial glory. Created amid the Eighty Years' War between the Dutch Republic and Spanish Habsburg forces, the image likely served as allegorical propaganda, evoking themes of triumph and imperial power. Its two-sheet format allowed for grand scale, uncommon in engravings, making it ideal for display in affluent homes or public spaces. Muller's technique shines in the fine, swelling lines that create depth, texture, and dramatic movement, from billowing banners to armored figures. As a print medium, engravings like this democratized access to high art, enabling multiple impressions for wide dissemination across Europe. This piece invites visitors to ponder the blend of artistry and ideology in an age of conflict.
About the Artist
Jan Harmensz. Muller · 1571–1628
Comment on works: Printer and Draughtsman