Sacrifice Scene (Gaius Mucius Scaevola?)
late 16th century
Medium
pen and brown ink with brown wash on laid paper
Dimensions
overall (octagon): 24.7 x 35.7 cm (9 3/4 x 14 1/16 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Rosenwald Collection
Accession Number
1943.3.8878
Art Historical Context
This evocative drawing, titled *Sacrifice Scene (Gaius Mucius Scae?)*, hails from the late th century and is attributed to an anonymous Netherlandish artist Executed in pen and brown ink with brown wash on laid paper, measures an unusual octagonal shape of .7 x 35.7 cm, suggesting it may have been designed for a specific frame or album. The medium—reminiscent of Northern Renaissance drafting techniques—allowed for precise line work to define figures and architecture, while the brown wash added subtle tonal depth, evoking dramatic light and shadow in a compact composition. The scene likely dep...