The Triumph of Julius Caesar: Soldiers Carrying Vases

Created using the chiaroscuro woodcut method, the artist carved separate blocks for light and dark tones, producing a strong contrast that suggests volume and depth. Each figure’s pose mirrors the original Mantegna composition, allowing the print to convey a three‑dimensional effect despite its monochrome medium.

The series was issued by the printer Andreani, who supplied a detachable sheet of classical columns that could be inserted between the frieze panels. Surviving examples retain fragments of these orange‑colored columns flanking the fourth scene. The frontispiece of the set includes a portrait bust of Mantegna and a statement about the popularity of the original paintings.

Mantegna’s triumphal scene, painted a century before the woodcuts, drew on ancient literary descriptions of Roman triumphs. By the early 17th century, such reproductions served both decorative and educational purposes, allowing collectors to assemble the prints into a continuous frieze that echoed classical architecture.