The Roman Consul Attilius Regulus Fighting a Giant African Serpent, plate 25 in the Venationes Ferarum series

About this artwork

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Art Historical Context

Behold *The Roman Consul Attiliusulus Fighting a Giant African*, plate 25 from Jan van der Straet—known as Stradanus—*Venationes Ferarum* (1596 or later). This Flemish Mannerist artist, active in Renaissance Florence under Medici patronage, specialized in dynamic scenes of hunts and spectacles. Designed for engraving, this print captures the dramatic intensity of ancient Roman *venationes*— beast hunts in arenas like the Colosseum—blending historical lore with fantastical elements. The scene dramatizes the legendary consul Marcus Atilius Regulus, a Roman hero of the First Punic War (264–241 BCE), locked in mortal combat with a colossal African serpent. Stradanus drew from classical texts like Pliny the Elder's *Natural History*, which described such exotic encounters, fueling Renaissance fascination with antiquity and the natural world. Regulus's tale of valor and sacrifice resonated in 16th-century Europe, symbolizing stoic virtue amid peril. As part of a celebrated series of 32 plates, engraved by masters like Philips Galle, this work exemplifies Mannerist flair: twisting figures, exaggerated scale, and vivid action that popularized animal combat motifs in prints, tapestries, and decorative arts. Housed in the Smithsonian American Art Museum (gift of Mrs. A. W. Erickson), it invites us to marvel at how art revived Rome's spectacles for eager early modern audiences.