The Banquet of Alexander
Medium
Engraving
Dimensions
Sheet (trimmed): 9 15/16 × 14 7/16 in. (25.2 × 36.6 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1949
Accession Number
49.95.163
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
This engraving, created between 1540 and 1550 by Domenico del Barbiere in collaboration with Francesco Primaticcio, portrays a lively banquet scene centered on Alexander the Great and his companions. The composition captures the drama of an ancient feast, with figures gathered around tables in animated conversation and indulgence. As a print medium, the engraving allowed this classical subject to reach a broader audience beyond the elite circles of the French court, where Primaticcio worked as a leading Mannerist artist at Fontainebleau. The work reflects the Renaissance fascination with Alex...