The Battle of the Amazons

On this engraving we see dramatic combat scenes of a battle on horseback between Amazons and Athenians, set on a stone bridge. Both humans and horses are powerful and vital in their appearance, their bodies almost interwoven in the bitter fight; some are tumbling from the bridge. The composition is complex – it leads the viewer from one figure to another, rendering the intensity of the battle palpable. The depiction is based on a story from Greek mythology: the clash between Theseus’ army and that of the Amazonian Queen. This engraving carried out by Lucas Vorsterman based on the monumental painting by Peter Paul Rubens is the largest reproduction of an original in the 17th century. The painting demonstrates Rubens’ masterly ability to depict emotion and movement, and is considered one of the most important depictions of a battle by the painter. Vorsterman’s work on turning it into an engraving is believed to have begun as early as 1620, though the completion and delivery of the plate was delayed. This led to conflict between Rubens and Vorsterman, and eventually to the termination of the collaboration between the painter and the engraver.