La Battaglia di Alessandro (1529) Albrecht Altdorfer

Description of Albrecht Altdorfer’s painting The Battle of Alexander the Great with Darius

1529 г.

The grand battle is depicted in oil on canvas by an equally grand artist. It didn’t take Altdorfer as long to create this masterpiece as one might assume from looking at the painting. The plot is very rich, the fullness and drawing of the many details. Truly a great creation. It is no coincidence that this painting was a favorite work of art for Napoleon Bonaparte and adorned the wall of his cabinet for 15 years.

In the foreground of the painting are the mighty warriors, who are depicted in the general mass of numerous figures. Even in this mass, however, one can discern whose side is superior. One can clearly see the Persians beginning to retreat. Alexander the Great’s glorious army, as if a single wall, looms menacingly over the enemies, causing them to be terrified and retreat. The great victory is portrayed so beautifully and vividly that it simply boggles the imagination.

It is very noteworthy that a large place in the picture is given to the drawing of the sky. Huge, as if divided into two sides by color, it is depicted simultaneously with the sun and the moon. It is as if the author contrasts light and darkness, Persians and Russians. The sun in the sky is shown rising, its rays seemingly breaking through the dark darkness of the sky and giving warmth and support to the warring braves. Since the painting is very rich in its semantic subject, this is also expressed in the colors used by the artist.

Rich, lush tones of red, green, blue, blue, yellow and various shades of brown predominate. This makes the picture even more attractive, grandiose and solemn. The general impression of the landscape is expressed in a kind of mute awe at the significance of the historical event and at the strength and power of the characters depicted.