Roman Battle Scene
Ignaz Elhafen (1658–1715)
c. 1688/95
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Ignaz Elhafen often drew inspiration both for individual figures and for entire compositions from print sources. In the case of ‘Roman Battle Scene’ and ‘Battle Scene with Turks’, the former reveals the sculptor’s ingenious appropriation of the work of Antonio Tempesta. It represents an artful combination of the single figure of Aemilius from one of his engravings (B. XVII, 156, 853) with the overall cavalry charge from another (B. XVII, 156, 830). Conversely, no visual sources for the second have been identified, although that should not be taken as guaranteeing that no such source exists.
The two scenes, which may have been commissioned from the artist by Prince Johann Adam Andreas I von Liechtenstein, are clearly designed as a pair. This is apparent not just because they are identical in size and appear to be carved from pieces of markedly striated ivory from the same elephant tusk, nor even because they are populated by similar figure types, but above all because of the way their compositions are organised. In both, the background consists of artfully directional lances and flags, with an amorphous mass of soldiery in front of them, and with a select number of resplendently three-dimensional protagonists at the front.
Neither relief gives any indication that it is meant to portray a specific battle, while the pairing of an episode from classical history with a modern narrative is uncommon. The imperial wars against the Ottomans lasted from 1683 to 1699, so this piece was almost certainly carved before their conclusion, although very possibly after the decisive Battle of Mohács, which was the beginning of the end of the Turkish threat.
- Material/technique
- Ivory (relief)
- Measurements
- 14.2 × 23.1 cm
- Acquisition
- presumably acquired in Prince Johann Adam Andreas I von Liechtenstein
- Artists/makers/authors
- Ignaz Elhafen
- Inventory number
- SK 568
- Signature/inscriptions content only available in German
- Sig. unten rechts: I.E.
- Provenance
- presumably acquired in Prince Johann Adam Andreas I von Liechtenstein
- Place of origin
- Vienna
- Iconography
- Roman History
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