Gevecht tussen satyrs rijdend op hippocampussen en oude vrouw als personificatie van afgunst staand op rug van draak

Gevecht tussen satyrs rijdend op hippocampussen en oude vrouw als personificatie van afgunst staand op rug van draak is a monumental and dramatically conceived print by the Italian Renaissance master Andrea Mantegna, produced during the period 1473-1477. Created on paper, this complex work is a cornerstone example of High Renaissance drafting and the powerful visual language Mantegna employed in graphic media. The composition is teeming with figures derived from classical mythology, staged in a fierce, allegorical combat.

The chaotic scene depicts the struggle of satyrs, traditional symbols of wildness and earthy desire, who are shown riding vigorously upon marine hippocampi. These figures are pitted against the grotesque personification of vice. Central to the narrative is the imposing figure of an old woman, representing Afgunst (Envy). This powerful manifestation of malice stands precariously upon the back of a powerful, menacing dragon, emphasizing the corrupting and destructive nature of the vice she embodies.

Mantegna frequently utilized dramatic mythological contests in his engravings and prints, allowing him to disseminate complex moralizing and humanistic imagery across Europe. The intense musculature, dramatic chiaroscuro, and classical poses evident in this piece clearly showcase the artist’s deep knowledge of Roman sculpture and his profound interest in anatomical realism. This exceptional print is a defining piece of early Italian graphic art and resides within the prestigious collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it is preserved as an important example of 15th-century works available for public domain study.