Triumphs of Julius Caesar: Canvas No. II, by After Andrea Mantegna Italian, 1431-1506, is an impressive 18th-century drawing replicating the second panel of Mantegna’s monumental nine-canvas procession celebrating Julius Caesar’s military conquest of Gaul. Created in Italy, this piece reflects the enduring reverence for the master’s pioneering Renaissance classicism and his detailed, archaeological approach to Roman subject matter.
This large-scale drawing is meticulously executed using pen and brown ink, supplemented by brush and gray wash to achieve sophisticated modeling and depth. The artist prepared the cream laid paper with an initial yellow wash, providing a warm undertone before the detailed composition was applied. To enhance the volumetric forms and create visual drama, the work utilizes lead white pigment for heightening, a material that has since oxidized, yielding the characteristic darkened highlights seen today.
The popularity of Mantegna's original sequence ensured that copies, often made via engravings and drawings, were widely disseminated throughout Europe centuries after its creation. This specific interpretation of Triumphs of Julius Caesar: Canvas No. II offers insight into 18th-century artistic education and the practice of copying revered designs. Today, while the originals are highly guarded, the composition is accessible through studies and high-quality prints, elements of which have entered the public domain. This significant drawing is housed in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, preserving the legacy of Mantegna’s influential narrative style.
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