The Battle with the Cutlass

Art Historical Context

The Battle with the Cutlass, engraved by Agostino dei Musi around 1531 after a design by Giulio Romano, captures the vigorous movement of a dramatic combat scene. Created as an engraving on laid paper, this print measures 33.7 by 46.2 centimeters and reflects the Renaissance practice of translating paintings or drawings into reproducible images. Agostino, an accomplished Italian engraver, skillfully rendered Giulio’s composition, allowing the original work to reach viewers far beyond the artist’s studio. Giulio Romano, a leading figure in the Mannerist movement and former assistant to Raphael, often favored dynamic narratives and expressive figures. By working “after” his design, Agostino helped spread these inventive ideas through the relatively new technology of printmaking. Engravings like this one played a vital role in the sixteenth century, circulating artistic styles and subjects across Europe. Acquired by the National Gallery of Art through the Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund, the work stands as a fine example of how prints preserved and popularized the energetic storytelling of Mannerist art for generations of viewers.