Artwork

The Shepherd and the Old Warrior

The Shepherd and the Old Warrior, by Domenico Campagnola, ink, 1517
The Shepherd and the Old Warrior, by Domenico Campagnola, ink, 1517

The Shepherd and the Old Warrior is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Domenico Campagnola. It dates from 1517 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Domenico Campagnola's 1517 engraving, The Shepherd and the Old Warrior, depicts a serene scene of two men under a leafy tree, distinguished by their age and demeanor.

Subject & Meaning

The engraving portrays a contrast between youth and age: a calm, staff-bearing younger figure in the foreground and a leaning, older warrior behind, clad in simple attire, set against a backdrop of a small building and rolling hills.

Technique & Style

Campagnola employed fine lines to achieve depth, particularly in rendering the tree's foliage and the textures of the subjects' clothing, a characteristic technique of the time for adding dimension in black-and-white prints.

History & Provenance

Created in 1517, specific details about the engraving's provenance and historical context beyond its creation date are not provided.

Context

The work reflects the Renaissance interest in contrasting themes (youth vs. age) and the use of engraving as a popular medium for detailed, reproducible artworks during the early 16th century.

Legacy

While specific legacy details of The Shepherd and the Old Warrior are not outlined, it contributes to the broader understanding of Campagnola's oeuvre and the evolution of engraving techniques in Renaissance art.

Artist & collection

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.