Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae: Naval Battle
16th century
Medium
Engraving
Dimensions
sheet: 9 7/16 x 15 3/8 in. (24 x 39 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1941
Accession Number
41.72(2.123)
Tags
Art Historical Context
Welcome to the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, where you'll find *Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae: Naval Battle*, captivating 16th-century measuring 9 7/16 x 15 3/8 inches. Part of the renowned *Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae* ("Mirror of Roman Magnificence") series, compiled by Antwerp publisher Antonio Lafreri, this print vividly captures the drama of a naval clash amid ancient Roman grandeur. Swarming boats, fierce soldiers, and dynamic male nudes evoke the epic scale of classical warfare, blending historical fantasy with Renaissance fascination for antiquity. ...
About the Artist
Master of the Die|Giulio Romano|Claudio Duchetti · 1525–1560
**Master of the Die** (fl. 1525–1560) was an anonymous Italian engraver and printmaker active primarily in Rome during the mid-16th century. Named for the distinctive small die he used to sign his prints—a tiny emblematic mark that became his moniker—this elusive artist remains unidentified despite scholarly proposals linking him to figures like Benedetto Verino, Giovanni Francesco Zabello, Tommas...