The Massacre under the Roman Triumvirate

Art Historical Context

This engraving, titled *The Massacre under the Roman Triumvirate*, reproduces a design by the Flemish artist Hans Vredeman de Vries and dates to the fifteenth century. Created through the intaglio process of engraving, the print captures a dramatic episode from ancient Roman history—the proscriptions ordered by the Second Triumvirate in 43 BCE, when political rivals were systematically eliminated. Such scenes of conflict and authority held strong resonance in Renaissance Europe, where classical history served as both moral lesson and political commentary. Prints like this one played a vital role in sharing complex compositions with wider audiences. As a reproductive engraving “after” Vredeman de Vries, it allowed viewers far from the original drawing or painting to study the artist’s inventive architectural settings and dynamic figure groupings. The crisp lines of the medium highlight dramatic contrasts of light and shadow, guiding the eye through the crowded composition while preserving the intensity of the historical event. Today, this work in the National Gallery of Art’s collection reminds us how Renaissance printmakers bridged past and present, turning ancient stories into accessible images for study and reflection.