Triumphs of Julius Caesar: Canvas No. IX

Triumphs of Julius Caesar: Canvas No. IX, created after Andrea Mantegna Italian, 1431-1506, is an ambitious eighteenth-century drawing residing in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. The piece meticulously employs pen and brown ink, coupled with brush and gray wash, applied to cream laid paper. The sheet was prepared with a yellow wash, a common practice to tint the paper, and the composition was subsequently heightened with lead white, a pigment which has oxidized over time, lending a unique tonal complexity to the finished work.

This Italian drawing is a vital record of one of the Renaissance’s most influential artistic achievements: Mantegna’s monumental fresco series commissioned for the Gonzaga court in Mantua around 1485. Created between 1700 and 1799, this adaptation reflects the enduring significance of Mantegna’s compositions, which remained highly regarded throughout the subsequent Baroque and Neo-Classical periods in Europe. The series illustrates the spectacular Roman procession following Julius Caesar’s victories, complete with soldiers, triumphal arches, and the spoils of war.

As a drawn study, this work demonstrates the crucial role reproductions played in disseminating major compositions centuries after their creation, especially those that were fragile or difficult to access. Classified as a drawing, this piece provides scholars and the public with intimate access to the technical interpretation of the original masterwork. Today, the foundational nature of this series means that high-quality prints and related studies are often made available through public domain resources, allowing continued study of Mantegna's enduring legacy.