Soldiers, musicians and horses from, 'The Triumph of Caesar'

Art Historical Context

Behold this dynamic woodcut, *Soldiers, musicians and horses from, 'The Triumph of Caesar'*, created in 1504 by Jacob of Strasbourg and Benedetto Bordone. Measuring 13 by 16⅛ inches, this print captures a lively fragment of Julius Caesar's legendary triumphal procession—a grand Roman celebration of military victory, complete with armored soldiers, festive musicians, and prancing horses. Produced during the early Renaissance, it reflects the era's fascination with classical antiquity, evoking the pomp and pageantry of ancient Rome through intricate black-line details on paper. As a woodcut, this medium was revolutionary for its time, allowing artists to carve designs into wooden blocks for multiple impressions. This technique democratized art, spreading vivid imagery of historical epics to a broader audience beyond elite patrons. Bordone, a Venetian printmaker, and Jacob of Strasbourg likely drew inspiration from Andrea Mantegna's famous painted series on the same theme, adapting it for print to showcase Renaissance mastery of narrative composition and movement. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1927), this work highlights the collaborative spirit of early printmaking and its role in preserving cultural memory. Imagine the streets of imperial Rome alive in your hands—timeless glory captured in ink!

About the Artist

Jacob of Strasbourg|Benedetto Bordone ( |Italian) · 1494 |1455 –1530 |1488

Italian School, born Alsace, active Venice, 1494–1530|Italian, Padua ca. 1455/60–1530 Padua, active mainly Venice from 1488