Who painted Hannibal's Navy Battling the Rhodians?

Hannibal's Navy Battling the Rhodians was painted by Willem Basse in 1634.

Where can I see Hannibal's Navy Battling the Rhodians?

Hannibal's Navy Battling the Rhodians is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Hannibal's Navy Battling the Rhodians?

Hannibal's Navy Battling the Rhodians is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

Hannibal's Navy Battling the Rhodians

Willem Basse , 1634

Hannibal's Navy Battling the Rhodians is an ink print by the Baroque artist Willem Basse. It dates from 1634 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Willem Basse’s 1634 print, titled *Hannibal’s Navy Battling the Rhodians*, is executed as an etching and engraving on laid paper. The composition captures a tumultuous naval clash, with vessels locked in combat amid a storm‑laden sea. Smoke curls upward from the decks, while ropes and oars are strewn across the chaotic scene, emphasizing the intensity of the encounter.

Subject & Meaning

The image dramatizes a historic episode from 260 B.C., when the Carthaginian fleet under Hannibal engaged the warships of Rhodes off the coast of Sicily. By depicting the two forces locked in violent contact, Basse evokes themes of ancient rivalry and the perils of maritime warfare, inviting viewers to contemplate the human struggle against both enemy and elemental forces.

Technique & Style

Basse employs a combination of etching and engraving, using dense cross‑hatching to render the churning waves and convey depth.

Basse employs a combination of etching and engraving, using dense cross‑hatching to render the churning waves and convey depth. Fine lines delineate the rigging, where miniature figures scramble, adding narrative detail. The contrast between dark, heavily hatched areas and lighter washes creates a sense of movement, while the texture of the laid paper contributes to the overall atmospheric effect.

History & Provenance

Created in the early seventeenth century, the print reflects Basse’s known interest in nautical subjects. Though specific ownership records are scarce, the work has been catalogued among his surviving maritime prints, which were circulated among collectors of the period and later entered museum collections specializing in early modern graphic art.