Army Train and Death
1551 to 1600
Medium
engraving
Dimensions
sheet (trimmed within plate): 6.7 × 28.7 cm (2 5/8 × 11 5/16 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Rosenwald Collection
Accession Number
1943.3.3357
Art Historical Context
"Army Train and Death" is a finely detailed engraving created by Johann Theodor de Bry after an original design by the 16th-century German artist Erhard Schön. sometime between 1551 and 1600, the print’s narrow, elongated format—measuring roughly 6.7 by 28.7 centimeters—suggests a frieze-like composition well suited to its subject of a marching military procession. Engraving allowed artists to achieve crisp lines and reproducible images, making works like this one accessible beyond court or church circles. De Bry’s version preserves Schön’s earlier vision while showcasing the technical refine...