Naval engagement set inside a Roman arena, with the river Tiber and nymphs at lower left and right

Art Historical Context

Etienne DuPér’s etching from 157–85 imagines a naumachia, staged naval battle, unfolding a vast Roman arena. The scene blends historical reconstruction with fantasy: warships clash amid churning waters while allegorical figures of the Tiber River and attendant nymphs frame the composition at lower left and right. Working in Rome during a period of intense antiquarian interest, DuPérac drew on his firsthand study of ancient monuments to evoke the grandeur of imperial spectacles that once entertained thousands. As an, the print allowed fine detail and wide circulation, helping disseminate knowledge of Roman architecture and engineering across Europe. DuPérac’s precise linework captures the massive scale the arena’s architecture alongside the dynamic movement of ships and waves, inviting viewers to marvel at both ancient ingenuity and Renaissance artistry. The inclusion of mythological river deities underscores the Renaissance fascination with classical mythology as a bridge between past and present. Today the work resides in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Department of Drawings and Prints, where it continues to illustrate how sixteenth-century artists reimagined antiquity for new audiences.

About the Artist

Etienne DuPérac · 1535–1604

Comment on works: architect; painter