Artwork
Riders Carrying Bows and Javelins
Riders Carrying Bows and Javelins is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Antonio Fantuzzi. It dates from 1542 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Riders Carrying Bows and Javelins is an etching created by Antonio Fantuzzi around 1542. It depicts a chaotic scene of mounted figures armed with bows and javelins.
Subject & Meaning
The etching shows a group of soldiers on horseback in a state of turmoil, reflecting the period's interest in classical themes reinterpreted through Mannerist aesthetics. The scene is tense and dynamic, suggesting a battle or a hunt.
Technique & Style
The work is characterized by sharp, detailed black lines on paper, achieved through etching. The technique allows for lines that appear both rough and precise, contributing to the overall sense of chaos and energy.
History & Provenance
Fantuzzi created the etching while working at the Palace of Fontainebleau as a principal assistant to Francesco Primaticcio, as part of the decorative projects during the 1540s under King Francis I.
Artist & collection
Artist
Antonio Fantuzzi (active in the 1540s) was an Italian painter and printmaker active in the French Renaissance in a Mannerist style.
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