Artwork
Capricci di varie battaglie
Capricci di varie battaglie is an ink print by the Baroque artist Johann Wilhelm Baur. It dates from 1635 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1635, *Capricci di varie battaglie* is an etching on laid paper by the German artist Johann Wilhelm Baur. The print presents a series of imagined battle episodes, rendered with a dense network of figures on foot and horseback. Its composition is marked by a turbulent energy that reflects the dramatic sensibilities of early‑17th‑century visual culture.
Subject & Meaning
The image assembles several combat scenes into a single, chaotic tableau, emphasizing the disorder and violence of warfare. Riders clash, some brandishing swords, while others tumble to the ground, suggesting both the heroism and the futility inherent in battle. The work does not illustrate a specific historical event but rather conveys a generalized, almost allegorical view of conflict.
Technique & Style
Baur employed traditional etching methods, using acid to incise lines into a metal plate and then applying ink that gathers in the deepest grooves.
Baur employed traditional etching methods, using acid to incise lines into a metal plate and then applying ink that gathers in the deepest grooves. This allowed him to produce thick, dark strokes that convey motion and tension. The swirling, rough lines and the contrast between heavily inked areas and lighter washes are characteristic of Baroque printmaking, which favored dynamic, theatrical effects.
History & Provenance
Johann Wilhelm Baur, known for his meticulous illustrations and miniature paintings, produced this print as part of his broader output that included a celebrated series for Ovid’s *Metamorphoses*. While the exact ownership trail of *Capricci di varie battaglie* is not fully documented, the work has been cited in several catalogues of 17th‑century German prints, confirming its place within Baur’s oeuvre and the period’s print market.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Johann Wilhelm Baur, Joan Guiliam Bouwer, or Bauer (Strasbourg, 31 May 1607 - Vienna, 1 January 1640) was a German engraver, etcher and miniature painter. He is famous for a series of illustrations of Ovid's Metamorphoses.
