Combat at the foot of a tower

Art Historical Context

Jacques Courtois, known as *il Borgognone*, *Combat at the Foot of a Tower* between1635 and 1660, a dynamic etching that captures the chaos of battle in intricate detail. This 17th-century print depicts a fierce skirmish unfolding beneath a towering structure, with soldiers clashing in a whirlwind of swords, horses, and dust. Measuring about 8⅜ × 13¼ inches on the plate, its compact scale belies the intensity of the scene, making it ideal for close study. As a leading Baroque artist specializing in military subjects, Courtois drew from his experiences in Italy, where he worked after fleeing war-torn France. Etching, his preferred medium, allowed him to use acid to bite fine lines into a copper plate, producing rich, expressive textures that convey motion and drama—hallmarks of the Baroque emphasis on energy and realism. This technique made his works accessible through reproductions, popular among collectors during an era of constant European conflicts like the Thirty Years' War. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, thanks to The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, this piece offers a window into 17th-century warfare's brutality and artistry. It reminds us how prints like this not only documented history but also thrilled viewers with their vivid storytelling.

About the Artist

Jacques Courtois · 1621–1676

A specialist in battle paintings, he also painted religious and other scenes. As a teenager, Courtois left France for Italy with his young brother, Guillaume. He drew military campaigns, then studied in Bologna, Florence, and Siena, arriving in Rome by 1638. He worked primarily in Italy. He joined the Jesuit order in 1657.