The Taking of Alexandria

Art Historical Context

Behold *The Taking of Alexandria*, a dynamic etching created between 1672 and 1678 by the collaborative talents of Guillaume Courtois, an Italian Baroque painter renowned for his vivid battle scenes inspired by Rubens and Van Dyck, and Girard Aud, a masterful French engraver celebrated for his precise reproductive prints. This work captures the dramatic conquest of Alexandria, likely drawing from ancient historical events such as Roman or medieval sieges, rendered with the grandeur typical of 17th-century European art. Courtois's original composition, faithfully translated by Audran's etching technique—where acid etches intricate lines into a metal plate for rich tonal depth—evokes the chaos and heroism of warfare. Etchings like this were revolutionary, making monumental history paintings accessible beyond elite patrons through affordable prints. Housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (acquired via the Harris Brisbane Dick Fund in 1953), this trimmed sheet (11 5/16 × 8 1/4 in.) exemplifies Baroque drama's cultural power, blending historical narrative with technical virtuosity to inspire awe in viewers today.