Gevecht tussen tritons met nereïden op hun rug

The influential Italian Renaissance master, Andrea Mantegna, created Gevecht tussen tritons met nereïden op hun rug sometime between 1473 and 1477. Executed on paper, this masterful print is believed to be one of Mantegna's own engravings, demonstrating his early adoption of the medium for independent artistic production rather than solely reproduction. The work captures a dramatic mythological struggle, characteristic of Mantegna’s enduring interest in classical themes and archaeological precision.

The scene depicts a fierce aquatic battle involving Tritons (mermen) and Nereids (sea nymphs), often identified as a "sea battle" or ichthyomachia. Mantegna fills the composition with muscular, deeply modeled figures whose energetic poses and classical physiognomy recall Roman sarcophagi reliefs. The chaotic movement of the figures, combined with the detailed rendering of their powerful musculature and flowing drapery, showcases Mantegna’s dedication to anatomical study. This intense graphic style, achieved through precise line work in the copper plate, was highly influential across northern Italy, ensuring that Mantegna's innovative compositions were distributed widely through prints. The work demonstrates the profound impact of rediscovering classical imagery during the Quattrocento.

As a key example of Mantegna’s contribution to the history of graphic arts, this exceptional work resides within the extensive prints collection of the Rijksmuseum. The survival of such high-quality early Renaissance prints, often now available in the public domain for study, allows scholars and enthusiasts to examine the graphic innovations pioneered by the artist.