Artwork
Battle between a Centaur and a Triton
Battle between a Centaur and a Triton is an ink print by the Baroque artist Jusepe de Ribera. It dates from 1630 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
This etching, created by Spanish Baroque artist Jusepe de Ribera around 1630, captures a mythological battle scene between a centaur and a triton on laid paper.
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts a centaur (human-horse hybrid) and a triton (human-fish hybrid) clashing in intense combat. The centaur wields a club, while the triton grasps a trident, set against a backdrop of water, rocky shoreline, trees, and bushes.
Technique & Style
Executed in etching, a medium Ribera mastered, the work reflects his characteristic dramatic force, typical of his contributions to Neapolitan Baroque art.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1630 by Jusepe de Ribera, a pivotal figure in Neapolitan art alongside Zurbarán and Velázquez, as part of the tradition of history painting.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Jusepe de Ribera (Valencian: ; baptised 17 February 1591 – 3 November 1652) was a Spanish painter and printmaker.
